Fort Ontario Fall Hours And Improvements

by Contributor | August 29, 2011 6:44 am

OSWEGO, NY – After Labor Day Fort Ontario State Historic Site will revert to its spring-fall hours of operation and be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except for the Columbus Day holiday when it will be open.

Preparations are under way to host a major French and Indian War event at Fort Ontario on June 30 - July 1, 2012. Several hundred re-enactors from the all over the United States and Canada will converge on Oswego to commemorate Fort Ontario’s significant role in the international conflict which ended French control of Canada.
Preparations are under way to host a major French and Indian War event at Fort Ontario on June 30 - July 1, 2012. Several hundred re-enactors from the all over the United States and Canada will converge on Oswego to commemorate Fort Ontario’s significant role in the international conflict which ended French control of Canada.

The final day of the fort’s operating season will be Oct. 16.

Normal admission fees will be charged and children 12 years of age and under will be admitted free.

This fall, AmeriCorps staffer Ian Mumpton will be available for on-site youth programming and school tours; teachers and others are encouraged to contact him at [email protected]

On Sept. 10 an arts, crafts, and kite festival will be held on the grounds outside the old fort.

Tickets for the annual Ghost Tours will go on sale by advance reservation after Labor Day. Check the Friends of Fort Ontario website for details – fortontario.com

Electricians have completed Fort Ontario’s state of the art security and fire alarm systems; high definition live feed and recording video cameras have been installed throughout the buildings and grounds.

Work on the fort’s infrastructure using NYS Capital Improvement and Federal Environmental Protection Funding will continue through the fall and winter.

Standing water in front of Officer’s Quarters #1 at Fort Ontario. Work this fall will be aimed at repairing or replacing broken storm drains dating from the 1840s through 1990s.
Standing water in front of Officer’s Quarters #1 at Fort Ontario. Work this fall will be aimed at repairing or replacing broken storm drains dating from the 1840s through 1990s.

These funds cannot be used for staffing or utilities whose budgets at the fort as in other state agencies have been reduced over the previous year. The fort’s small staff, volunteers, and contractors assisted and directed by regional engineering staff are conducting.

One or more buildings at Fort Ontario may be closed, under repair, and unfurnished at any time this year and next.

However, the fort will still be OPEN and visitors will be able to walk the ramparts, parade ground, and underground stone casemates in the footsteps of our nation’s greatest and lesser known military figures.

A room in the Enlisted Men’s Barracks has been fitted up for lectures, videos, school tours, and special programming.  Weddings continue to be popular at the fort.

Next year, a major French and Indian War event will be held at the fort on June 30-July 1.

For more information on activities at Fort Ontario, contact Paul Lear at (315) 343-4711 or [email protected]

The fort is located at the north end of East Fourth Street in the city of Oswego.

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