Bring the whole family to experience Fort Ticonderoga on land and water this summer!
Throughout July and August, Fort Ticonderoga offers a new line-up of fun, active, and hands-on programs that will be sure to excite and delight the whole family! Take a guided tour and explore the beautiful and historic grounds of Fort Ticonderoga, become a Gunner’s Apprentice and help soldiers with their daily duties, climb aboard the tour boat, Carillon, to experience the history on the waters of Lake Champlain, join a Cannon Crew and practice the steps to successfully load and fire a cannon, journey down to the King’s Garden, roll up your sleeves, and join the garden program to learn about the different types of produce used at the fort.
Specially designed tours just for families are offered at 10:40 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. to get an overview of the variety of exciting things to do during a visit. Fort Ticonderoga is filled with adventure as you step back into 1757, a time at which the French held the fort when it was called “Carillon.”
Become a Gunner’s Apprentice by helping the soldiers and civilians stationed at Fort Carillon as they go about their daily activities. Stop by the camp kitchen to discover what each meal consisted of and why. Visit the shoemakers on the first floor of the Officer’s Barracks to learn what goes into keeping an army marching in good footwear. Adventure upstairs to the Tailor Shop and feel the different types of fabrics used in their clothing and try on different French uniforms! Journey down to the carpentry yard and help the soldiers on fatigue duty as they construct gabions and fascines to support these fortifications.
Climb aboard the Carillon, a 1920s replica tour boat, and learn about the most archaeologically rich waters in North America. The 90-minute narrated tour available daily Tuesday through Sunday brings Ticonderoga’s epic story to life surrounded by the beauty of Lake Champlain and the mountains of Vermont. Pack a lunch or order lunch to-go from America’s Fort Café, relax, and enjoy the ride!
Join a Cannon Crew at 3:30 p.m. and practice the steps needed to successfully load and 
fire cannons at Fort Ticonderoga. During this kid-friendly program, understand how every small detail is part of the teamwork of a successful shot. (Cannons will not be fired during this program).
Roll up your sleeves and adventure down to the King’s Garden, help soldiers with weeding, and learn what kind of vegetables were grown and used for meals in 1757. Talk with the soldiers about their rations and the challenges of feeding an army of 8,000 people.
In addition to these activities, pass through the Log House Welcome Center, pick up a trail guide at the Guest Service Desk, and take a family hike on the Carillon Battlefield to explore where empires clashed to decide the destiny of North America. Rent canoes, make use of our Waterway Trail Guide (also located at the Guest Service Desk), and travel the shoreline of Lake Champlain and the mouth of the La Chute River nearby In August, take the time to adventure through the Heroic Corn Maze to look for history clues among towering stalks of corn connected to our epic story. With the yearly-changing design, the corn maze makes for a perfect annual family adventure! The Maze is open August 12 -28 from 10 am – 5 pm daily (Last entry 4:30), September 1 – October 28, 2017 10 am – 5 pm (Last entry 4:30 pm) Saturdays & Sundays only and Thursdays & Fridays for group reservations only. It is also open Labor Day (Monday, September 4, 2017) and Columbus Day (Monday, October 9, 2017).
These interactive activities will inspire creativity and make history come alive! Fort Ticonderoga also hosts living history events, re-enactments, and other family fun events such as the Heritage, Harvest, and Horse Festival on September 30, 2017. For more information on family visits and activities, call (518) 585-2821 or visit www.fortticonderoga.org.
America’s Fort is a registered trademark of the Fort Ticonderoga Association.
Photo: Photo Credit: Fort Ticonderoga. Family Programs resume July through August.