Fort George (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort George (New York) |
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| New York, New York | |
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Fort George, on the day of its evacuation by the British, 24 November 1783
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 Fort George (New York)
Fort George (New York)
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| Coordinates | 40°51′45.4″N 73°55′55.6″W / 40.862611°N 73.932111°W |
Fort George is a name that was given to five different forts in what is now the state of New York. These forts played important roles in the early history of the region. They were used by different groups, including the Dutch, British, and Americans, during various conflicts.
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Military Forts in New York
First Fort George: Lower Manhattan
The very first Fort George was originally built in 1626. It was located in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which is now Lower Manhattan in New York City. The Dutch named it Fort Amsterdam.
When the British Army took control in 1664, they renamed it Fort James. The Dutch briefly took it back from 1673 to 1674, calling it Fort Willem Hendrick.
The British got it back and renamed it Fort William Henry in 1691. Then it became Fort Anne (or Queen's Fort) in 1703. Finally, in 1714, it was named Fort George.
During the American Revolutionary War in 1776, Americans destroyed parts of the fort. It was completely taken down in 1790. Today, the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House stands on this historic site.
Second Fort George: Oswego
A second Fort George was built by the British in 1755. This fort was located in Oswego, New York.
However, it did not last long. A French commander named Louis-Joseph de Montcalm destroyed it in 1756. The area where this fort once stood is now Montcalm Park. It is bordered by West Schulyer Street, Montcalm Street, and West 6th Street.
Third Fort George: Lake George
The third Fort George was built in 1755 near Lake George, New York. This fort was also destroyed. It was taken down in 1777 and then completely abandoned in 1780.
You can find its former location southeast of Fort William Henry. It was in the wooded area within Lake George Battlefield Park.
Fourth Fort George: Staten Island
The fourth Fort George was not a permanent structure like the others. It was an encampment, or temporary military camp. It was built on Staten Island around 1777.
This camp was likely located on Fort Hill, in the area of St. George, Staten Island. The British fortified this hill during the American Revolutionary War. It overlooked the harbor. Hessian troops, who were German soldiers hired by the British, were stationed nearby.
Fifth Fort George: Upper Manhattan
The last fort to be named Fort George was built in 1776 in New York City. This fort was located on Fort George Hill in Upper Manhattan. It was near where Audubon Avenue and West 192nd Street are today.
For a short time, it was called Fort Clinton. But it was soon renamed Fort George.
Fort George Neighborhood Today
The site of the fifth Fort George, in upper Manhattan, is on a hill. This hill is at the northern end of the Washington Heights neighborhood.
After the fort was gone, the site became a fun place. From 1895 to 1914, it was home to the Fort George Amusement Park. Today, the George Washington Educational Campus and part of Highbridge Park are located there. Fort George Hill is also the name of a street that goes around the old fort's site.
The area around the hill is also called Fort George. It is considered a smaller part of the Washington Heights neighborhood. Sometimes, people say it stretches from West 181st Street to Dyckman Street. Other times, it's described as a smaller area, east of Broadway to the Harlem River. However, most New Yorkers do not widely use the name Fort George for the neighborhood.
See also
