Fort Niagara State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Niagara State Park |
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Fort Niagara State Park
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Route 18F Youngstown, New York |
| Area | 504 acres (2.04 km2) |
| Created | February 1948 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 830,538 (in 2014) |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Fort Niagara State Park |
Fort Niagara State Park is a cool place to visit in New York State, right in Niagara County. It's located in the Town of Porter. Inside this park, you'll find the famous historic Fort Niagara.
This park covers about 504-acre (2.04 km2) of land. It's located northwest of Youngstown, at the end of the Niagara Scenic Parkway. The park is also part of the special Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.
Contents
A Look Back: Fort Niagara's Story
This section shares a quick history of the area that is now Fort Niagara State Park. It has a long and interesting past!
Early Forts and Buildings
In 1678, French explorers built a fort called Fort Conti. Sadly, it burned down in less than a year. Later, in 1687, another fort named Fort Denonville was built in the same spot.
A very important building, the "Maison a Machicoulis," was built by the French in 1726. Today, people call it the "French Castle." It's a two-story building that still stands.
Military Use and Changes
A US Coast Guard station was set up here in 1893. It's on the bank of the Niagara River, below the Fort, and it's still in use today.
The Officer's Club building opened in 1938. Its design was inspired by the old French Castle. This new building replaced an earlier one that had been destroyed by fire.
From 1940 to 1943, the 28th Infantry Regiment moved away for training. Fort Niagara then became a place where new soldiers would arrive and get ready for duty.
In 1941, the State of New York gave the Fort to the United States government. From 1944 to 1946, Fort Niagara was used as a camp for German prisoners of war.
Becoming a State Park
In 1948, the land was given to the New York State Council of Parks. They started managing it as a state park for everyone to enjoy.
Many of the old military buildings were taken down between 1965 and 1966. Out of about 100 buildings on the base, most were removed.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Fort Niagara State Park offers lots of cool activities for visitors. You can enjoy picnics at tables and pavilions. There are also great places for hiking and a fun playground.
The park has 18 soccer fields, a swimming pool, and special recreation programs. You can explore a nature trail, play tennis, or go sledding in winter. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also popular when there's snow.
If you like fishing, there are two boat launches on the lower Niagara River. You can also go waterfowl hunting during certain seasons. There's even a food concession if you get hungry.
The park is home to the Old Fort Niagara Historic Site, which is a must-see! Inside The Officer's Club, you can see five amazing murals painted by Tom Loftin Johnson. These murals show the history of the 28th regiment.
During the summer, a park naturalist leads nature programs and trail hikes. They also manage the natural history exhibits in the park's nature center. This center helps you learn about the local plants and animals.
On clear days, you can even see the skyline of Toronto across Lake Ontario. Toronto is about 30 miles (48 km) away. You might spot the tops of the CN Tower and other tall buildings, even if the Canadian shore is hidden.
The Fort Niagara Lighthouse
The lighthouse at Fort Niagara State Park is a cool landmark. The one you see today was built in 1872. It's the third lighthouse to stand at Fort Niagara.
Building the Lighthouse
The United States government built this lighthouse after the old wooden one was damaged by a tornado. It's an eight-sided tower made of limestone. At its base, there's a storage room that used to hold oil for the lamp.
The special Fresnel lens from the old tower was used in the new one. The light was turned on for the first time on June 10, 1872.
In 1900, the tower was made even taller, by about 11 feet (3.4 m). A watch room was added between the lamp and the stone tower. Making the lamp higher helped its light reach up to 25 miles (40 km) away!
Next to the lighthouse is the keeper's quarters. This is a colonial-style home that is now a private residence.
Lighthouse Today
The U.S. Coast Guard managed the light until 1993. At that time, nearby trees grew so tall that they blocked the light's view from the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.
A new, modern steel beacon tower was built near the Coast Guard station. Now, the Old Fort Niagara Association runs the 1872 tower as a museum and gift shop. The original Fresnel lens is now on display in the Fort's museum.
Park Improvements and Future Fun
In 2015, Governor Cuomo and New York State made a plan to invest $72 million in their state parks. Fort Niagara State Park received a big part of this investment.
About $2,500,000 was promised to update the bathhouses at Fort Niagara's swimming areas. This means better facilities for everyone who visits the park's pools.
Fort Niagara also shared $600,000 with other nearby parks. These parks include Artpark, Four Mile Creek State Park, Golden Hill State Park, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. This money was used for fishing docks and other projects to make fishing easier and more fun for visitors.
