Old Fort Niagara

Photograph Courtesy of Destination Niagara

The site of Old Fort Niagara has a storied history which dates back to 1679 when the French built the first fortification, Fort Conti. The most impressive structure which remains at the site today is the “French Castle,” the permanent fortification built by the French in 1726. Three countries would claim dominion over the strategic site over the centuries. The French lost control to the British in 1759 during the French and Indian War and the British handed the fort over to the Americans in 1796 (though they recaptured it for a short time in 1813!).

The fort’s last active conflict was during the War of 1812 but it was subsequently used as a peaceful border post and as barracks and a training station for American soldiers during both World Wars. The army withdrew in 1963 and today, the U.S. Coast Guard remains as the last vestige of military presence. While the military was still present in the 1920s, older buildings on the campus began to badly deteriorate. A group of concerned citizens banded together to form the Old Fort Niagara Association in 1927 and went on to carry out multiple restoration projects on the historic properties.

Today the site operates as a museum, sprawling across twenty-three acres of land at the mouth of the Niagara River with fortifications, outworks, six 18th-century buildings, significant archaeological remains, and the early post cemetery. Along with the gorgeous views of the river you can take in from the grounds, there are living history programs where costumed actors re-enact historic scenes, guided and self-guided tours, and historic demonstrations as well as special events. Old Fort Niagara is located just under fifteen miles north of the falls and is one of the many stops on the convenient and free Discover Niagara Shuttle which runs every day between May and September.