Three Hundred Years of History!!! This Fort was really a Great History lesson! I won't go into to much detail. Three nations have occupied Fort Niagara. The French of course who thought they would rule the new world. (well just for awhile) They actually built Fort Niagara. From the establishment of the permanent Fort at Niagara in 1726, until it was captured by the British in 1759. A white flag was flown above the walls. There are three flags that fly in the middle of the fort grounds. There is the American Flag, the British flag, and a white flag. I asked if it meant surrender, but it was actually a French Flag.
So now this is where it gets confusing. OK you ready-- The French loose the fort to the British,(1759). The British keep it for quite awhile. The war of 1812, they loose it for awhile but recapture it in 1813 by a surprise attack on Dec. 19, 1813. Like I said alot of history but really interesting..
There is also Fort George which is on the Canadian Side across the Niagara river, More history...More battles. May 25-26, 1813 The Americans attack Fort George burn it down to the ground. Once they were in control of Ft. George American leadership began to waver.... They didn't pursue the British Army and were then able to escape and re-group. By the time the Americans left Ft George their forces were too few and too late... They were attacked and defeated June 1813. Stuck in forts left for disease, boredom, and loss of their own beliefs.
So still at Fort George in Dec. 1813, Gen. George McClure decided that Ft George was untenable and ordered a withdrawal to the NY side of the river, Fort George was then ordered to be destroyed to prevent it's use by the British. Then he gives an unfortunate second order -- The adjacent town of Newark (or Niagara on the lake) was also to be burned. Private property was destroyed, and civilians were left without shelter. This unwarranted and destructive action would lead to a British retaliation, and result, by wars end, in the nearly complete devastation of both sides of the Niagara River. The fort was eventually given back to the Americans in 1815. Treaty settled! Men!!!!
That's it for that era then there's the Civil war but were not going there! If you are ever here come see this amazing Part of history!!
I know this is too much information but it is so cool to walk through these buildings and try and imagine what it was like. Huge Cannons, the buildings,surroundings. This place is HUGE!! Right on Lake Ontario. I had my picture taken with the minute man who gave a musket demo. pretty neat but the gun powder was pretty smelly.
In the museum there is "the original flag" that flew over Fort Niagara in 1813, when it was captured back by the British they took the flag as a souvenir for the king, but he didn't want it, so he puts it in some trophy room where it just sits until......1994. The flag resurfaced, a descendant, of the old king, sold it back to the museum for $150,000.00 they said she needed a new roof on her castle in Scotland... It's on display at Fort Niagara. It has 15 stars on it not 13. I will post a picture of it. The dark spots were caused by when it was stored at the castle, and there was a fire in the castle and voila dark spots.
Although many different versions of the Stars and Stripes have flown over the walls of Fort Niagara, the 15 Stars and Stripes banner displayed today, was in use from 1794-1818. A flag of this design, flying over Fort McHenry during a British Bombardment in 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the lyrics to what would become the Star Spangled Banner!!!! OK enough my brain is tired!!!!! We had a Great day today. Tomorrow we are going on the American side of Niagara Falls. And what day would not be complete without us getting LOST!!! Just alittle and at least the neighborhood was good!!!! So enjoy the pictures and I hope you liked your History lesson. I hope I got it right!!!!! xxxxxoooooooo
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