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Experience the blend of history and natural beauty like nowhere else when you visit Fort Ticonderoga! Explore 2000 acres of America’s most historic landscape located on the shores of Lake Champlain and nestled between New York’s Adirondack and Vermont’s Green Mountains. Create lasting memories as you embark on an adventure that spans centuries, defined a continent, and helped forge a nation.
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EXPLORE THE 6-ACRE HEROIC CORN MAZE!
Share time with family and friends while exploring a unique corn maze located on the shores of Lake Champlain at Fort Ticonderoga, with a NEW DESIGN for 2025! Getting lost in this life-size puzzle is part of the fun as you look for history clues among towering stalks of corn! Find clues connected to our story as you navigate the maze!
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About Fort Ticonderoga
Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga is a major cultural destination, museum, historic site, and center for learning. As a multi-day destination and the premier place to learn more about North America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors each year with an economic impact of more than $16 million annually. Presenting vibrant programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits, Fort Ticonderoga and is open for daily visitation May through October and special programs during Winter Quarters, November through April. Fort Ticonderoga is owned by The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, 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. 2025 All Rights Reserved.Instagram @FORT_TICONDEROGA
#OTD 250 years ago—May 16, 1775, Benedict Arnold and the schooner "Liberty" were en route to attack the British post at St. Jean (St. Johns, as they called it) where a government sloop was the only other vessel of size on Lake Champlain.
Later that day they captured a boat carrying mail heading south for Ticonderoga, along with Ensign Joseph Moland of the 26th Regiment of Foot, who was in it. Ensign Moland was from New Jersey, the brother of Lieutenant-Colonel Dudley Templar`s American wife, and the 4th officer of the regiment captured in the war.
Learn more about Arnold`s regimental memorandum book (object ID MS.7160) and his time at Ticonderoga and Crown Point on our website: https://fortticonderoga.org/news/whos-in-command-at-fort-ticonderoga/
250 years ago today—May 16, 1775—Ticonderoga and Crown Point had been in American hands for nearly a week. Farther south, so was Skenesborough, a prosperous settlement founded by career British Army officer Philip Skene. Skene was at sea returning from a visit to England when the Americans captured Skenesborough, but his son, Major Andrew Skene, and his daughters, Katherine and Mary Ann Margaret, were captured. So were the town’s industrial fixtures, including grist mills, saw mills, an iron foundry, and a shipyard that would become vital for the American navy on Lake Champlain. In a letter written on May 16 to the Connecticut General Assembly, Captain Elisha Phelps discusses the management of the newly-captured town.
“Major Skeen Estate we have put into the Care of Capt. Noah Lee, a man of Good [Character] and Capable of taking Care of the Business well”, Phelps writes. He considers the welfare of the town’s residents, stating that “the Iron work must be Carried on for the Benifet of the people here”. Not all the residents of Skenesborough were trustworthy, though, particularly Skene’s business agent, John Brooks. “It would Not Do by No means to have mr Brook Stay heare as he was Looked upon to be a [bigger] Innemy to his Contry than Major Skeen, and tis an Easy mattor to Send an [Indian] to Cannada and Inform them all our Scheems and plans”.
Phelps also worried about Philip Skene’s schemes and plans. He writes that he has heard that Skene has married a rich woman in England, that he has a commission to govern Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and that he is bringing 1,000 men with him to Skenesborough. Only one of these rumors was true—Skene had been commissioned as lieutenant governor of Ticonderoga and Crown Point—but Phelps, who had no way of assessing the truth of the news, was concerned. He recommended that “Not Less than three thousand men be here [immediately] and to push on to Saint Johns & Kannada”. Phelps’ request would be indirectly answered that fall by the American invasion of Canada.
Learn more about Phelps’ letter (object ID MS.6007) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/30210
A #spring morning in the #KingsGarden, with columbine standing out in the mist.
Rewatch the livestream of the 250th Anniversary of the first American victory of the American Revolution: The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga!
Just weeks after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, a small American force led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold launched a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga. The British garrison surrendered without a fight. The capture gave the Americans much needed artillery, which were transported to Boston by Henry Knox that winter and used to drive the British out of the city in 1776.
During the vignette, watch as Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys rush out of the night with patriotic shouts and the war cry of “No Quarter!” See this remote British garrison surprised, asleep with their families in the quarters. Listen as British officers try to buy time and attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender with the famous and infamous Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen. *Livestreaming began at 8pm, fast forward to 46:00 to begin the vignette with a performance by the Fort Ticonderoga Fife & Drum.
WATCH THE EVENING VIGNETTE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wYVxR6dv9I
Immerse yourself in the events leading up to May 10, 1775, with our REAL TIME REVOLUTION™ playlist on YouTube. Experience the historic drama through high definition 4K videos, including The Race to Ticonderoga and The Expedition to Ticonderoga, which bring to life the daring strategies of Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys. This curated series offers a vivid portrayal of the moments that set the stage for America`s first offensive victory.
🎥 Dive into history now with the REAL TIME REVOLUTION™ Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt3625dFL4hkdGP8mJJp23wNsyB5zoXwF
🎥 youtube.com/@FortTiconderogaNY
About 250 years ago today—between May 13 and May 15, 1775—Ethan Allen penned another letter to Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull. We recently shared a letter that Allen wrote to Trumbull on May 12 in which he announced the capture of Ticonderoga and made plans to gain naval control over Lake Champlain. In his next letter, Allen’s mind was focused firmly on the future.
Allen begins, “the Hazard of Takeing Ticondaroga was supposed to be such that the Comitee of war for the Expadition Imploy’d Mr. Jonas Fay of Bennington to Proceede with the Scout to said Premises in Character of Doctor & [Surgeon]”. Happily for Allen, the capture of Ticonderoga had been nearly bloodless, with only one American slightly wounded. Allen and his party celebrated their victory but knew more would be required to hold onto their prize. The British still had a ship on Lake Champlain, and less than 100 miles north was Canada, where about 800 British troops were stationed. On May 14, Benedict Arnold sailed north from Crown Point to attack the British Fort St. Jean. As he wrote his letter, Allen was contemplating a raid on the same fort.
Allen writes, “there appears still a Greater Prospect of Need of a Person” with Fay’s skills, “and as Doctor Fay Has with him on the Premises Consderable of a [Quantity] of Medecines &c. and is willing and well skilled to Continue the Campain… I would therefore Recommend him to be Continued by Your Honour’s Appointment… this recommendation… is founded on the Hypothesis that Government will send a Military force to Maintain the [sovereignty] of Lake Champlain in favour of the Colonies”.
Allen’s force had been enough to capture Ticonderoga’s tiny garrison. Keeping the fort and lake under American control would require more men and likely some combat, making Dr. Fay’s continued services vital, but with reinforcements, Allen and others believed their chances were good. Allen had made the first strike; now it was time for the American colonies to provide the resources needed to consolidate their gains.
See Allen’s letter (object ID MS.3038) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/30187
#OTD 250 years ago—May 14, 1775, Benedict Arnold`s forces grew. With new recruits and the schooner "Liberty" (Philip Skene`s captured schooner "Katherine"), Arnold was preparing to take the war to Canada, and deny the British naval control over Lake Champlain.
Learn more about Arnold`s regimental memorandum book (object ID MS.7160) and his time at Ticonderoga and Crown Point on our website: https://fortticonderoga.org/news/whos-in-command-at-fort-ticonderoga/
Remember the sacrifices of fallen American soldiers at Fort Ticonderoga this Memorial Day Weekend May 24-25, 2025 and discover how the American Army in 1775 defended liberty at this iconic site.
Join a hive of activity as newly drafted American soldiers ply their civilian trades and help rebuild this military outpost. Throughout the weekend, visitors will witness the labor of liberty as Fort Ticonderoga staff portraying New England militia bring to life this defining story through military drill, weapon demonstrations, historic trades, hauling timber with oxen and repairing the fort they just arrived at.
Learn more: https://fortticonderoga.org/news/remember-the-sacrifices-of-fallen-american-soldiers-at-fort-ticonderoga-this-memorial-day-weekend-may-24-25-2025/
Lilacs are our #FlowerOfTheWeek, but forget-me-not, lamium, & crabapples are all beautiful this #Spring week in the #KingsGarden!
On this day 250 years ago—May 12, 1775—Ethan Allen was in command at Fort Ticonderoga, but few people knew it. News of major events could move quickly through the colonies on horseback, but without intentional coordination it often moved slowly, especially in sparsely populated regions like the Champlain Valley. By the time Allen sat down on May 12, two days after capturing the fort, to write this letter to Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Trumbull had no idea that the plan his government had authorized was such a success.
Allen opens his letter grandly, telling Trumbull, “I make you a Present of a Major a Captain and Two Lieuts in the regular Establishment of George the Third”. This “Present” included Captain William Delaplace, former British commander of Ticonderoga, and Major Andrew Skene, who had been captured at his father Philip’s estate at Skenesborough at the south end of Lake Champlain. Allen hopes that his prisoners will be useful “as ransoms for some of our Friends at Boston”.
Major Skene was not the most important prize gained from the capture of Skenesborough. The party that took Skenesborough also captured Philip Skene’s schooner, and Allen had plans for it. “I Expect in Ten days Time to have it rigged man’d and arm’d with 6 or 8 Pieces of Canon… I Purpose to make an Attack on the arm’d sloop of George the Third which is Now Crusing on Lake Champlain… I Hope in a Short Time to be authorised to acquaint your Honour that Lake Champlain & the fortifications thereon are subjected to the Colonies.”
While capturing Ticonderoga was a victory, keeping control of it would be a more difficult task. Outfitting a fleet of American ships to gain naval control of Lake Champlain was an important step. Reinforcements were also needed, and Allen writes, “I Depend upon Your Honours Aid and Assistance in a Situation so Contiguous to Canada”. Allen signs himself “at Present Commander of Ticonda[roga]”. At that moment, Ticonderoga was in his hands, but the real work to keep it was just beginning.
View the Allen letter (object ID MS.1933) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29970
Continuing our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga we were joined today by the Vermont Air National Guard 134th Fighter Squadron "The Green Mountain Boys" who proudly keep alive the spirit of the Green Mountain Boys who fought in the American Revolution. #America250 #F35 #fighterjets
On this date 250 years ago—May 11, 1775—Crown Point was seized by Seth Warner and Epaphras Bull was appointed to take the British prisoners taken at Ticonderoga to Hartford. Bull left Ticonderoga travelling south on Lake George, arriving at Fort George shortly after it too was captured.
View the Bull journal (object ID MS.3020) and learn more at our website: https://fortticonderoga.org/news/the-road-to-ticonderoga-epaphras-bulls-journey-begins/