Fort Crown Point facts for kids
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Fort Crown Point
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Ruins of the fort's barracks, 2020
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 Location in New York Adirondack Park
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Crown Point, New York, NY |
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| Area | 11,800 acres (4,800 ha) |
| Built | 1759 |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000033 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHLD | November 24, 1968 |
Fort Crown Point was a very important fort built a long time ago. It was constructed in 1759 by British and American colonial soldiers. This huge fort was located on a narrow part of Lake Champlain, right between what is now New York and Vermont. Its main job was to protect the area from the French during a big war.
Today, you can still see the amazing ruins of Fort Crown Point. It is a special place called a National Historic Landmark. It is also part of the Crown Point State Historic Site, where people can visit and learn about its past.
Contents
A Fort Built for Protection
French Fort First
Before the British built their fort, the French had their own fortress here. In the 1730s, they built Fort Saint-Frédéric with very thick limestone walls. These walls were about 12 feet (3.7 meters) thick! British forces tried to capture it twice during the French and Indian War. However, the French destroyed their own fort in the summer of 1759 to prevent the British from taking it.
Building a Mighty British Fort
After the French fort was gone, the British army took over. Sir Jeffery Amherst led the British forces. He had just captured another French fort called Fort Carillon, which he renamed Fort Ticonderoga. Amherst decided to build an even bigger fort at Crown Point. He wanted to keep his soldiers busy during the winter of 1759.
A man named Israel Putnam helped a lot with the building. He later became a general in the American Revolutionary War. Experts say that Fort Crown Point was the largest British military base ever built in North America. It was truly a massive project!
A Fire and New Purpose
Even though it was so big, Fort Crown Point was never directly attacked. It was finished after the French threat had mostly ended. So, it was used more as a place to gather troops and supplies than for actual battles.
However, something unexpected happened. On April 21, 1773, a chimney fire started in the soldiers' barracks. It quickly spread and burned for several days. A British engineer named John Montresor saw the fort in May 1774. He said the fire had turned it into "an amazing useless mass of earth only." He suggested building a new, smaller defense instead of fixing the main fort.
Role in the American Revolution
Capturing the Fort
After the French and Indian War, the British left only a small group of soldiers at Fort Crown Point. But then the American Revolutionary War began! On May 12, 1775, Captain Seth Warner and about 100 Green Mountain Boys surprised the British. They easily captured the fort in what was called the Battle of Crown Point.
The Americans found 111 cannons at the fort. They moved 29 of these cannons to Boston. These cannons were very important for defending Boston Harbor against the British.
A Base for Battles
During the Revolution, Fort Crown Point became a key base for the Americans. Benedict Arnold used it as a staging area for his navy on Lake Champlain. His navy fought bravely but was destroyed in 1776 during the Battle of Valcour Island.
After a failed American attempt to invade Canada in 1777, the fort was left to the British. However, the British also abandoned it in 1780. The new United States didn't need the fort anymore, so it was left to slowly fall apart.
Today, you can still see the huge earthen walls of the fort. The stone ruins of two barracks buildings are being carefully preserved. Fort Crown Point was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
Famous People Visited Here
Many important figures from American history visited Fort Crown Point:
- Benjamin Franklin traveled here on his way to Canada. He was trying to get Canada to join the Americans against the British.
- George Washington visited on July 21, 1783. This was the farthest north he ever traveled!
- Future Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison also came to the fort in 1791.
Images for kids
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A south view of Crown Point in 1760 by Thomas Davies.
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Ruins of Fort at Crown Point, Crown Point, N.Y. around 1902.
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Ruins of Fort at Crown Point, Crown Point, N.Y. around 1907.
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Ruins of Fort at Crown Point, Crown Point, N.Y. between 1900 and 1906.
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Port Henry from Crown Point, Crown Point, N.Y. This picture shows the view across Lake Champlain at hills in the distance, taken on December 23, 1902.
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Main building of Fort at Crown Point, N.Y. in 1990.
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Fort at Crown Point, N.Y. in 1995.
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Ruins of Fort at Crown Point, Crown Point, N.Y. in 2004.
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An historical reenactment at Fort Crown Point, 8 August 2009.
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