Fort Mississauga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Mississauga |
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Entrance to Fort Mississauga
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| Location | Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada |
| Built | 1814 |
| Original use | Military fortification |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
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| Official name: Fort Mississauga National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 30 May 1960 |
Fort Mississauga is an old fort located right on the edge of Lake Ontario. It's found where the Niagara River meets the lake, in a town called Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. Today, the fort has a brick tower shaped like a box and star-shaped earthworks (mounds of earth).
This fort was built with bricks between 1814 and 1816, during the War of 1812. It was meant to replace an older fort nearby, called Fort George. The builders used bricks and stones from the ruined town of Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake). This town had been burned by American forces in December 1813. Fort Mississauga helped protect Upper Canada (what Ontario was called back then). It was part of a group of defenses, including Fort George, Navy Hall, and Butler's Barracks. Even though it was important, the fort wasn't fully finished until after the war ended.
Contents
History of Fort Mississauga
Early Uses of the Land
Before the fort was built, this land was used by different First Nations groups. The Neutral people lived here in the 1400s. Later, the Seneca were here in the late 1600s. By the 1700s, the Mississauga people used the area.
In 1804, a lighthouse was built on this spot, which became known as Mississauga Point. This was the very first lighthouse on the Great Lakes. However, it was taken apart in 1814 to make room for Fort Mississauga. Some of its stones were even used in the new fort. Today, the Mississauga Point Lighthouse is remembered as a National Historic Site. A special plaque inside Fort Mississauga tells its story.
Building the Fort
After the British captured Fort Niagara in December 1813, a group called Captain Runchey's Company of Coloured Men helped. They worked with the Royal Engineers to fix up the defenses near the Niagara River. In the spring of 1814, this company was told to build a new fort on the Canadian side. This new fort was named Fort Mississauga.
The materials for the fort came from the ruined town of Newark. At this time, the American navy controlled Lake Ontario. So, building this fort was very important for the safety of British forces in the Niagara area. One British officer said, "Mississauga… is a pretty little Fort, and would prevent vessels coming up the river." Because they were busy building, the Coloured Corps could not fight in other battles that summer.
How the Fort Was Used
The British Army used Fort Mississauga from 1813 to 1855. After that, the Canadian Militia took over. They used it as a summer training area starting in the 1870s. Soldiers also trained here during both World Wars and the Korean War.
In the late 1870s, a golf course was built nearby. Today, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course surrounds the fort. People can still visit the fort by following a walking path. There's a sign to watch out for golfers, as they have the right of way. The path starts at the corner of Front and Simcoe streets.
The blockhouse is the only original building left from the fort. All the other buildings, mostly made of logs, were destroyed or taken apart. The inside of the blockhouse is closed to visitors. However, you can see wooden staircases leading to some upper windows.
Fort Mississauga is a National Historic Site of Canada. It is part of the Niagara National Historic Sites, which are managed by Parks Canada.
The fort is connected with the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Images for kids
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Fort Mississauga in use, around the 1860s.
