Fort Ticonderoga, New York

Fort Ticonderoga is a 18th Century fortress built near the portage from Lake Champlain and Lake George. Located in New York state, it has commanding views of Lake Champlain, formally a vital north/south transportation route.

The fort was built by the French, and once withstood a 15,000 man siege by the English. Eventually captured, however, Fort Ti was in English hands until captured by Col. Ethan Allen of the Green Mountain Boys a few weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord. That winter 60 tons of artillery were hauled by sled in the middle of winter to Boston, helping General Washington end the British Siege.

The fort was allowed to crumble, and by the early 20th Century it lied in ruins. Starting in the 1930s, reconstruction began, and today the majority of the structure is in sound condition.

In the summers they fire the big cannons - unfortunatly due to our overly litigious society they no longer fire live rounds, just blanks. This is really a shame, for it was truly amazing to watch the iron balls fly.

	Commanding views of Lake Champlain. (October 2003)
	The fort sits on a spit of land, at a very narrow part of Lake Champlain. (October 2003)
	The inner dry moat. (October 2003)
	Here's another shot of the dry moat. Visible is the outer firing step and wooden stake palisade. (October 2003)
	The southern battery. (October 2003)
	Looking back on the southern battery from the interior wall. (October 2003)
	Nice Gun!(January 2004)
	Here's the main bunkhouse, and inner wall. (October 2003)
	Outside of the gatehouse sit a couple of large morters. (October 2003)
	This plaque, dedicated to Ethan Allen, was posted by the New York Sons of Liberty. (October 2003)
	Here's a good shot of the bunkhouse. This is a three story structure; this is the second floor with a firing platform. believe it or not, the firing platform is the thickness of the wall. (October 2003)
	From the north rampart, you can see the full height of the bunkhouse. (October 2003)
	The other building in the courtyard is still in ruins. (October 2003)
	This is the northern battery. (October 2003)

 

 

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