Federal Grant Awarded to Fort Ticonderoga to Restore Historic Fort Walls

GRANT WILL FUND RESTORATION OF 18TH-CENTURY NORTH DEMI-LUNE

Fort Ticonderoga, a premiere historic and travel destination, has been awarded the Save America’s Treasures Grant, funded by the Historic Preservation Fund and administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior through a competitive process.

The property was awarded $465,000 to be utilized in the restoration of the north demi-lune, a stone defensive structure connected to the fort. Originally constructed in the 18th century, the north demi-lune was used to defend Fort Ticonderoga against invaders and was part of the fort’s outer defenses that Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold saw as they crossed Lake Champlain on their journey to capture the fort in May of 1775 securing America’s first victory in the Revolution.

The grant project will include the preparation of contract documents for the repairs that will conform to all necessary historic preservation standards. The restoration work itself will prevent further wall movement and deterioration by using modern preservation methods that will safely stabilize this national treasure while preserving its historic integrity. The project will begin in January 2020 and utilize the skills of a consulting structural engineer and preservation architect. Upon completion, this restoration project will allow visitors to safely access the north-demi lune.

“The Save America’s Treasures Grant is a major win for Fort Ticonderoga,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga president and CEO. “The ability to fund the restoration of the north demi-lune will provide stabilization for the fort in the future and will allow visitors to safely view the beautiful landscape Fort Ticonderoga has to offer for generations to come. This grant wouldn’t have been made possible without the support of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. We thank them for their continued efforts to help preserve this treasure that is an important part of our nation’s history.”

“Even before the American Revolution, our founding fathers considered Fort Ticonderoga an American treasure, because of its key role in the French and Indian War. Not to mention, this spectacular gem of Essex County is a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from far and wide, and boosting our Upstate economy as a result,” said Senator Schumer. “By allowing Fort Ticonderoga to refurbish its original walls, this federal investment will ensure that it is preserved for generations of New Yorkers and Americans to come. I’m proud of the role I played in securing this federal funding, and will always battl

e to maintain and preserve Upstate New York’s historical treasures for the long-term future.”

“I’m grateful to the National Park Service for prioritizing the upkeep and restoration of a North Country historical treasure: Fort Ticonderoga,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Advocating for the maintenance of historical sites in my district is a top priority for me and for my constituents. This Save America’s Treasures Grant will be instrumental in ensuring Fort Ticonderoga remains a commemorated site and tourist destination for many years to come.”

The Save America’s Treasure grant will provide visitors safe access so they can continue to experience and appreciate this nationally significant historic site and landscape. From the vantage of the demi-lunes, visitors have views of the Ticonderoga peninsula, Lake Champlain, Mount Defiance, Mount Independence and the Green Mountains of Vermont and can gain perspective on why Ticonderoga was so strategic to the 18th-century world. Public and school tour groups will utilize the space for educational programs as new generations of museum-goers are introduced to Fort Ticonderoga’s remarkable story.

About Fort Ticonderoga:
Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga preserves North America’s largest 18th-century artillery collection, 2,000 acres of historic landscape on Lake Champlain, and Carillon Battlefield, and the largest series of untouched Revolutionary War era earthworks surviving in America. As a multi-day destination and the premier place to learn more about our nation’s earliest years and America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 75,000 visitors each year with an economic impact of more than $12 million annually and offers programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year, and is open for daily visitation May through October. Fort Ticonderoga is supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.