This place has seen a lot of action! The British built a fort here in 1755 during the French and Indian War. The French destroyed that fort and the British rebuilt it in 1759. The British abandoned it and the Patriots destroyed it in 1778. The British rebuilt it in 1782 and it was turned over to the US in 1796 after the Revolutionary War. The British returned in 1814 during the War of 1812 and destroyed it again.
The current fort was built in the years leading up to the Civil War using locally quarried stone. It wasn't attacked again but it was still a busy place. During WWI it was military hospital, then an infantry base and leading up to WWII, a National Guard base and a training base for military police. It housed Jewish refugees from August 1944 to February 1946. After the refuges became US citizens the buildings were occupied by World War II veterans and their families. It became a state historic site in 1949.
In 1940 many buildings were constructed outside the fort walls to house new recruits. Most of these buildings are now gone and the few that remain are owned by the City of Oswego. The historic site includes the stone and earth walls that surround the fort and the buildings located inside the walls- guardhouses, powder magazine, storehouse, enlisted men's barracks, Army office building, and officer's quarters constructed in the 1840s. Several of the building have exhibits or are furnished to reflect the way the fort would have looked in the 1860s. There's also a walking path that circles the city park and leads to the fort cemetery.
The first floors of barracks and officers' quarters are accessible. Stairs are the only access to the second floors.The other buildings, including the admissions building, are not accessible. The top of the fort walls can be accessed with a strong helper to push up the grassy ramp. The path to the cemetery is accessible but was closed at the cemetery due to falling branches.
I've been to Fort Niagara, but not Fort Ontario; probably they're similar. They both have loads of history. I love how green the grass is.
ReplyDeleteIt's been raining a lot so very green grass. :) Fortunately we can see things inside on rainy days and take advantage of the other days to go outside. No forest boondocking though.
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