Fort Ticonderoga recently announced the creation of the Northern Department, a major new tourism initiative connecting partners in New York, Vermont, and Canada, including Tribal partnerships. This new tourism initiative, as part of America’s 250th national commemoration, is being celebrated from 2025-2027. The historic Northern Department was created by Continental authorities in 1775 and was established to manage the war against the British in the vast northern part of New York, New England, and Canada.
“Today, this initiative is inspired by the region’s defining role in the War for American’s Independence from the rivers, lakes, and mountains between Saratoga and Montreal, the Northern Department will promote historic sites and museums during the commemorative period,” said Beth L Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO.
A new interactive website highlights 18 historic destinations across New York, Vermont, Québec, and tribal nations connected to the American Revolution. Additionally, Northern Department brochures are available at the partnering historic sites and museums. The Northern Department will also be featured in an upcoming video production in 2025 and social media channels during the 250th commemorative period, which will place the region at the center of the conflict which shaped our nation.
“It might be said that Washington’s tour of the forts and battlefields of the Northern Department in 1783 made this region collectively the site of the first Revolutionary War tourism,” said Dr. Matthew Keagle, Fort Ticonderoga’s Museum Curator. “The Northern Department was critical to American victory in the Revolution and was recognized early on as the site of remarkable human achievements combined with some of America’s most dramatic scenery. Today we are energized to build off this legacy, encourage travel and catapult our region into the forefront of 250th commemoration in New York, the United States, North America, and beyond.”
“The Northern Department shouldered the assault of British forces from Canada in 1776 and 1777, culminating in the surrender of John Burgoyne’s army in October of 1777, forever altering the course of American history,” said Devin R. Lander, New York State Historian. “Today, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the War for the American Independence, we are thrilled to see Fort Ticonderoga initiate the recreation of the Northern Department. This project, connecting key partners in New York, Vermont and Canada, will promote Northern Department historic sites and draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region during the commemorative period.”
“Fort Ticonderoga is a world-class destination and educational resource,” said Beth L. Hill, President and CEO, Fort Ticonderoga. “We provide visitors with an entry point to experience the richest revolutionary history in the country, set amongst one of North America’s most scenic natural landscapes. We are thankful to individual donors, Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council for supporting this initiative. Fort Ticonderoga is committed to increasing access and awareness around the globe thus greatly expanding our economic impact and educational reach.”
Click here to plan a Northern Department adventure during America’s 250th.
About Fort Ticonderoga
Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga is a historic site, museum, center of learning and major cultural destination. Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors each year on site with an economic impact of more than $12 million annually and offers programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year, and is open for daily visitation May through October. Fort Ticonderoga is owned and operated by The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a non-profit educational organization which serves its mission to preserve, educate and provoke an active discussion about the past and its importance to present and future generations. Fort Ticonderoga reaches more than 30 million people through its digital outreach each year through its Center for Digital History and is supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts. To view Fort Ticonderoga’s electronic press kit, click here. © The Fort Ticonderoga Association. 2024 All Rights Reserved.