By Debi Lander | Bylandersea America 250
By early 1775, the American Revolution was no longer a series of angry protests and tense standoffs. It was war.
After the battles of Lexington and Concord in April, thousands of New England militia poured into the countryside surrounding Boston. Farmers became soldiers. Taverns became headquarters. Hillsides bristled with makeshift encampments. The British Army, commanded by General Thomas Gage, suddenly found itself trapped inside the city it had once confidently occupied.
Thus began the Siege of Boston.
The Siege That Changed Everything
For eleven long months, colonial forces encircled the city, cutting off supplies and steadily tightening the noose. The pivotal moment came in June at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where inexperienced colonial troops proved they could stand toe-to-toe with British regulars. Though the British technically claimed the field, their staggering losses sent a clear message. This rebellion would not be easily crushed.
George Washington arrived in Cambridge soon after and assumed command of the newly formed Continental Army. What he lacked, however, were the tools of victory, especially heavy artillery.
The solution lay more than 300 miles away at a remote stone fortress on the edge of Lake Champlain.
Fort Ticonderoga: The Key That Turned the War
Perched between Lake George and Lake Champlain, Fort Ticonderoga had guarded this vital water corridor since the French and Indian War. When Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the fort in May 1775, they seized far more than a strategic outpost. They captured cannons, the very weapons Washington desperately needed.
That winter, in one of the most remarkable logistical feats of the Revolution, Colonel Henry Knox led an epic expedition to haul more than sixty tons of artillery across frozen rivers, snow-choked forests, and rugged mountain passes. Oxen strained. Men froze. Wagons broke. Yet by March 1776, the guns arrived outside Boston.
Washington positioned them atop Dorchester Heights, overlooking the harbor.
When the British awoke to see American cannons aimed squarely at their fleet, the siege was over. On March 17, 1776, British forces evacuated Boston. It was the first great victory of the American Revolution.
The road from Lexington had led, improbably and magnificently, through Ticonderoga.
Walking Where Jamie and Claire Might Have Stood
As a fan of Outlander, Fort Ticonderoga carries a special resonance. Diana Gabaldon’s time-traveling saga places Jamie and Claire Fraser deep within the political and military drama of the American Revolution, and standing on Ticonderoga’s stone ramparts makes it easy to imagine their presence here.
At sunset, as Lake Champlain glows and mist curls across the water, the fort feels suspended between centuries. The wind moves through the grasses. Cannons still point toward the horizon. The world of 1776 feels close enough to touch.
It is precisely the kind of place where Jamie might have surveyed the valley for British movement, and where Claire might have gathered medicinal plants in the shadow of history’s turning point.
Why This Journey Still Matters
The Siege of Boston and the capture of Fort Ticonderoga were not isolated events. Together, they formed the hinge on which the war first turned. Without Ticonderoga’s cannons, Boston might still have fallen, but not in 1776 and not in the way that unified the colonies and electrified the world.
For modern travelers, following this path is more than sightseeing. It is walking the opening chapters of the American story.
Fort Ticonderoga Travel Guide
Ticonderoga • New York • On the Shores of Lake Champlain
I visited Fort Ticonderoga many years ago and recall it fondly. It’s location is one of the most evocative historical sites in North America — a restored 18th-century fort that played a pivotal role in both the French & Indian War and the American Revolution. Its star-shaped walls overlook Lake Champlain and Lake George, bringing to life the strategic struggles that shaped the long road to independence.
Location & Basic Info
Address: 102 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Hours (2026 Season): Tues–Sun, 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., May 2–Oct. 25 (last ticket 4:30) Fort Ticonderoga
Website: fortticonderoga.org
What to See & Do
Explore the Historic Fort
Walk the ramparts and bastions that once guarded the gateway between Canada and the Hudson Valley. Interpretive signs and staff bring the battles and daily life of soldiers into vivid focus, from muskets and cannons to uniforms and fort defenses.
Living History Programs
Fort Ticonderoga offers North America’s premier living history experiences with daily interpretive activities that immerse you in 18th-century military life, trades, and tactics — perfect for history lovers and families alike.
Expect:
- Weapons demonstrations
- Historic trades (cooking, tailoring, blacksmithing)
- Interpretive talks and hands-on experiences
REAL TIME REVOLUTION® — Living History & Reenactments
Fort Ticonderoga’s signature living history series, REAL TIME REVOLUTION®, animates pivotal moments from 1775–1777 through immersive events that unfold much the way they did 250 years ago.
Featured Events (2026 Highlights)
January–March Living History
- Supplying Our Army in Canada — winter supply life (Jan. 17)
- Precarious Garrison of Ticonderoga — soldiers wintering (Feb. 7)
- Proceed to Canada — logistics & reenactors (Mar. 28)
Spring & Summer Signature Reenactments
- Return of an Army — Continental Army retreat reenactment (July 3–5)
- Fleet & Fortification: The Science of Defense — defensive works & lake vessels (Aug. 29–30)
- Hold the Line for Liberty — battle reenactment (Oct. 24–25)
Seasonal Living History Days
- Scots Day (June) — Scottish troops and musket demos
- Memorial Day Weekend — tribute & Fifes & Drums ceremonies
- Heritage, Harvest, & Horse Festival (Oct.)
These events go far beyond static displays — you experience camp life, battle drills, supply movements, and civilian roles that connect you with the lived reality of the Revolution.
America 250 at Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga is a key site in America 250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.
- May 10, 2025 marked 250 years since the capture of Fort Ticonderoga — one of the Revolution’s first major American victories.
- Throughout 2025–2027, Fort Ticonderoga’s programs explore the people, alliances, and pivotal decisions that shaped the fight for independence.
- Events include immersive reenactments, scholarly panels (e.g., Revolutionary anniversaries), and community celebrations tied into the broader semiquincentennial.
Whether you visit during a signature weekend or join everyday living history demonstrations, you’ll be walking ground that played a formative role in the birth of a nation.
Fort Defiance: A Companion Legacy Site
Just a short walk from Fort Ticonderoga you’ll find Fort Defiance, the defensive earthwork erected by the Continental Army after the fort’s capture in May 1775. Whereas Fort Ticonderoga’s reconstruction focuses on the earlier French and British phases of the fort’s history, Fort Defiance offers a window into the American Revolution’s very beginnings. Outlander fans will recall Jamie’s interest in Fort Defiance. too.
🎖 Why Visit Fort Defiance
- Historical significance: Fort Defiance was built under the command of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold immediately following their surprise capture of Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775 — an action that helped spark the Revolutionary War.
- Strategic location: Positioned to overlook the southern approach to Fort Ticonderoga, Fort Defiance complemented the main fort’s defenses and helped secure American control of the area.
- Interpretive experience: While not as architecturally elaborate as the main fort, Fort Defiance’s earthworks, trails, and interpretive signage help visitors understand how quickly Americans fortified the region and illustrate the evolving nature of warfare and logistics in the 1770s.
📷 Photo & Walk Tips
- There is a scenic trail between Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Defiance that is perfect for photography — forested paths, historic earthworks, and dramatic lake views.
- Visiting Fort Defiance adds depth to your understanding of the events of 1775 and enhances your overall Revolutionary War context.
🎺 Living History & Programs
Fort Ticonderoga offers North America’s premier living history experiences — hands-on demonstrations and immersive programs that bring the past to life.
📌 Tips for Visiting
Plan Ahead: Events and reenactments can sell out — especially in summer. Early booking is recommended.
Best Time: May–October for full fort access and living history.
Nearby Attractions: Lake Champlain cruises, historic Ticonderoga town, hiking and outdoor recreation.
