ADDISON, Vt./CROWN POINT, N.Y. — The public is invited to take a once-ever packaged tour on Saturday, Sept. 12, of Champlain lakeshore sites where five particular military forts were built between 238 and 325 years ago. For $20 per person (people age 15 and younger are admitted free if accompanied by an adult), historians will show guests the archaeological sites of two early forts (1660, 1731) at Chimney Point in Addison, Vt.; the authentic ruins of two forts (1734, 1759) just across the Lake Champlain Bridge in Crown Point, N.Y.; and a star-shaped War for Independence fort site (1776) in Orwell, Vt. Among these five forts are three registered national historic landmarks, the largest British fort in North America, a fort that stood over 100 feet tall and was manned for an entire quarter-century, and a fort that was constructed by a 4,000-soldier workforce.
Starting at Chimney Point State Historic Site, located at the northeast end of the Lake Champlain Bridge, at 10 a.m., this unique ticketed tour is sponsored by “Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site.” The Friends group will supplement the bring-your-own lunch in a large picnic pavilion, with Friends providing cold soft drinks and a cookie. During this lunch, historian-educator Don Thompson will present a brief first-person interpretation of Samuel Champlain, the first European visitor to this area. After the first four fort tours of the day, participants may drive 26 miles south to Mount Independence State Historic Site and present their special “Five Formidable Forts” ticket and be admitted to an historian-guided afternoon hiking tour of the fifth fort.
Tickets may be reserved through the historic site administrators at Chimney Point (Elsa, 802-759-2412) and Crown Point (Michael, 518-597-4666) state historic sites. Checks may be made payable to “Friends of Crown Point S.H.S.” Tour space is limited; the public is encouraged but not required to pre-register; walk-ups will be welcome, space permitting. Tour participants should have footwear appropriate for some walking at Crown Point and for a trail hike at Mount Independence. There is no rain date.
Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site, Inc., is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 to promote, conserve, develop and interpret both national historic landmark fort ruins at Crown Point Historic Site for the public.