Fort St. Frederic and Crown Point

I recently went back home to my roots in upstate New York, and spent the day with my sister and her husband. We explored and rediscovered historic sites that predated the 7 Years War (French and Indian War.)

While on that journey we returned to Crown Point Historical site run by the State of New York. The last time I was there (some 10 years ago) the park was closed, so I was on my own to understand the ruins and their meaning. This time the park was open and we were fortunate enough to explore the museum, and we learned that the site contains the ruins of 2 separate structures, Fort St. Frederic, built by the French while exploring and moving down Lake Champlain, and His Majesty's Fort at Crown Point, built some 500 yards inland from the original destroyed French Fort. 

In 1734 the French built Fort St. Frederic on Crown Point. This structure gave France control of the Champlain valley until the completion of the much larger Fort Carillon (Fort Ticonderoga) which was completed in 1760. It was garrisoned by about 120 men, and became a center of life for settlers and the small community which sought protection from the French bastion. 

                                               A diorama of how Fort Frederic appeared in the 1740's           

                                                                 Remaining ruins of Fort St. Frederic

Fort Frederic figured prominently in the French and India War period. The French Commander passed Fort Frederic on his way to attack the British Fort William-Henry in July of 1757. (of note... James Fennimore Cooper's story "Last of the Mohican's is partially based upon this historical period and facts.)

In 1759 after relentless British attacks, Crown Point reverted to British control. The British utilized the services of 3,000 people to construct one of the largest forts in colonial North America. The result was a fort that rose 27 feet above it's stone foundation, and would serve the British well until 1775, when it was captured by American Colonists. It's capture gave the colonist 114 pieces of artillery and severely need ordinance. During it's British occupation, a thriving community sprung up around the encampment.

                      Part of the restored earthworks and re-enforced works of the Fort at Crown Point

                      Various pictures of the remains of the Officers and enlisted barracks of the Fort of Crown Point.

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