Unique events make each day a different experience – culminating in dramatic cannon attack from the summit of Mt. Defiance
Experience one of Fort Ticonderoga’s signature events, “Defiance & Independence,” a two-day battle re-enactment on Saturday July 21 and Sunday July 22.
Featuring nearly 500 historical re-enactors, this is the largest battle re-enactment of the year at Fort Ticonderoga. The battle will highlight the events of the summer of 1777, when Fort Ticonderoga’s American garrison is outflanked by a British invasion force advancing from Canada.
Admission to see this re-enactment is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket. New this year – second day admission is free — witness the entire two-day battle with a single ticket! For more information on this event and to view the entire event schedule, please follow this link or call 518-585-2821.
The Surprising American Retreat:
All weekend, through special programs, Ticonderoga brings to life the unforeseen American retreat and British capture of Fort Ticonderoga in July 1777. Watch, learn, and experience first-hand as the armies battle across the historic landscape at 1pm both Saturday and Sunday, during two unique battle scenarios. This intense two-day battle re-enactment will portray General Author St. Clair’s decision to evacuate Ticonderoga and how it constructed British General John Burgoyne’s advance towards Albany.
A Defining Story Brought to Life:
“The opportunity to witness the battle as American soldiers retreat back from their entrenched camp under the powerful British drive, is an immersive educational experience you won’t find anywhere else,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga’s President and CEO. “Our guests will watch the battle unfold, discover the diverse forces that caused the retreat, and get to personally meet with soldiers of both armies including the Fifes & Drums, the Rear Guard, the Continental Artillery, and British Regulars.”
“Reprieved from a siege in 1776 by the onset of winter, Ticonderoga including Mount Independence faced General John Burgoyne’s northern army of British, Loyalist, and German soldiers in July 1777,” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga’s Vice President of Public History and Operations. “General St. Clair’s army was formed from Massachusetts and New Hampshire regulars and militia, who put up a strenuous defense. Observe this battle firsthand and witness the struggles and successes from both sides of the conflict.”
Where a Goat Can Go, A Man Can Go!
On Saturday at 6:30 p.m. a gun crew from the Royal Artillery will haul their cannon to the summit of Mount Defiance, aiming at the Ticonderoga Peninsula located below. Guests can thrill at the incredible feat and discover the details of this decisive stroke and witness a cannon demonstration in the evening light of the beautiful summit. An additional ticket for this program is required and must be purchased at the base of Mount Defiance.
Sunset Boat Cruise:
Day 1 only, enjoy a relaxing summer evening on the Carillon tour boat with a glass of Colonial-inspired punch to set the mood. Listen to stories of armed schooners and prohibition-era rum-runners fire your imagination during a trip around Lake Champlain. Absorb the natural beauty of the lake, set between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, while witnessing a cannon firing demonstration plunging down on Ticonderoga from Mount Defiance. This event requires pre-registration and an additional ticket, which can be purchased at Fort Ticonderoga or in advance by calling 518-585-2821.
Each day offers a uniquely different experience for guests and are filled with historical fun and re-enactments. View the weekend schedule here.
Fort Ticonderoga offers more than one hundred exciting and unique events and programs this season! Visit www.fortticonderoga.org for a full list of ongoing programs.
Fort Ticonderoga: America’s Fort™
Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga preserves North America’s largest 18th-century artillery collection, 2,000 acres of historic landscape on Lake Champlain, and Carillon Battlefield, and the largest series of untouched Revolutionary War era earthworks surviving in America. As the premier place to learn more about our nation’s earliest years and America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 75,000 visitors each year 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 supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
America’s Fort is a registered trademark of the Fort Ticonderoga Association.
Photo Credit: Fort Ticonderoga