If you love history, enjoy talking to people, and would enjoy volunteering at an important and spectacular historic site we could use your help. Old Fort Niagara is seeking volunteers to serve as tour guides and docents during our busy spring and summer season. This would include giving guided tours for school groups in May and June, as well as conducting orientation and museum tours for visitors during the remainder of the summer. New volunteers need to attend our training program on April 9th/10th from 9am-12pm and April 13th from 9am-12pm. Please call Brian McDonald at (716) 745-7611, ext. 229 if you are interested in joining Fort Niagara’s team.
Tag Archives: Old Fort Niagara
News From Old Fort Niagara!
News from one of my favorite places in WNY—OLD FORT NIAGARA!
Final visitation numbers are in for 2012 and we are pleased to report a 33% increase in attendance over 2011 Tourism in the area was strong in 2012 as a result of the great work of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. We can also point to program improvements at the Fort and to the rapid expansion in Asian tourism as reasons for the dramatic growth in visitation.
The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation has announced a grant of $150,000 to support interpretive programming at Old Fort Niagara for 2013/2014. Funds will be used to enhance public programming, site promotion and exhibits at the Fort. Our sincere thanks go out to the Wendt Foundation for their generous support!
February 23 – Special Evening Tour: Winter Survival. Learn how the Fort’s garrisons survived the bitter winters of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The tour starts at 7:00 p.m. $20.00 per person. Purchase tickets in advance by calling (716) 745-7611
March 2 & 9- Tavern Nights
Enjoy a spirited evening in an 18th century tavern as Old Fort Niagara presents its 8th annual Tavern Nights. Enjoy common fare, tasty beverages, saucy wenches and unsavory period characters accompanied by live music. $30.00 per person. Fort tickets, call (716) 745-7611.
***We will be going to Tavern Night on March 2nd and all I have to say is this is one of the most fun events in WNY all year. AND IT SELLS OUT FAST so get your tickets ASAP!***
Old Fort Niagara: Castle by Candlelight
My favourite event at Old Fort Niagara! (Tavern Night is a close second…) The French Castle dressed up in Hoilday Finest. Merriment everywhere! (View photos of the event from last year taken by our friend Wayne!)
Old Fort Niagara: War of 1812 Encampment
I sent my Husband off to Old Fort Niagara this weekend for the War of 1812 Encampment.
Handsome.
Happy.
The views of the sunset over Lake Ontario from the French Castle…Breathtaking.
Previous Posts about Old Fort Niagara:
Halloween Fun at Old Fort Niagara
GHOSTS FROM THE PAST RETURN FOR THE HAUNTED FORTRESS
Tickets available by advance sale only for the October 22 & 29 events
YOUNGSTOWN, NY – As the leaves change their colors and the temperatures begin to drop, the spirits return to Old Fort Niagara for the annual Haunted Fortress. For two nights only, visitors will experience the dark side of Fort Niagara as ghosts and ghouls from the past walk among the historic buildings on Saturday, October 22 and Saturday, October 29. In addition to experiencing chilling stories from the Fort’s past, visitors tour the post cemetery and stop by a bonfire to hear true stories of unexplained happenings at the historic site.
Tickets are $12 per person and available by pre-sale only with credit card. Reservations can be made daily between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. by calling 716-745-7611. Bring a flashlight, dress for the weather and wear sensible footwear. The Haunted Fortress is not recommended for children under 8 years old.
Old Fort Niagara on Ghost Hunters!
Old Fort Niagara: Soldiers of the Revolution
I really love He Who Makes Me Smile. Cause this past Saturday morn, at a very early hour (for me) I dressed up in full costume to accompany my love to Old Fort Niagara for the Soldiers of the Revolution event.
Aren’t I revolutionary looking? Ha. I actually adore the outfits, bring on the petticoats!
But for the fact that it is the middle of the summer and the outfit consists of many layers of material. A nightgown, an overcoat, a petticoat, an apron and warm, felt-y moccasins. Hot. (I refused to wear the adorable wool above the knee stockings though, I might be in love but I’m not crazy!)
When He Who Makes Me Smile dresses up he ALWAYS wears contacts, even though he has these sinfully adorable period correct glasses he could be sporting for his lady. I love glasses…
Bum check. I mean, weapons. Or something. Huzzah!
Love this man. 
I purchased a little light reading for my lazy moments at the Fort while my honey was off at war…A New System of Domestic Cookery.
So next time I will be able to be in charge of the post-reenactment event feast! However, comma I will not be making recipes like this one, no matter how historically accurate we are as a group.
Pig’s Cheek for Boiling: “Cut off the snout and clean the head; divide it, take out the eyes and the brains, and sprinkling the head with salt, let it drain twenty four hours. Salt it with common salt and saltpetre. Let it lie eight or ten days, if to be dressed without stewing with peas; but less, if to be dressed with peas; and it must be washed first, and then simmered till all is tender.”
The one thing I wasn’t not expecting was the fact that being in full reenactment attire, people will ask me questions and think I know the answers. Um, time to do a lot of reading! While in the French Castle someone asked if the King of France ever visited during that time period and I correctly answered, no…followed by “but I hear he did Skype in for important battle meetings.”
Hahaha. I’m clever.
But really, being a part of the history of the event instead of just an innocent picture taking blogging bystander brought upon a whole new world of responsibility…and a whole lot of random people taking photos as I walk around the fort. I almost felt like an animal in a zoo!
Of course when FRIENDS take pictures, now that’s an entirely different story.
The best part for me, in addition to being with He Who Makes Me Smile is watching the kiddos. In this history lesson the kids joined an army and learned about muskets and bayonets and well, um, losing in a war. One little kid was a deserter and ran from one side to the other across the battle field. Cracked me up!
And then there are the two cutest little twin boys from the group. I pretty much followed these two everywhere I could. God Bless their Mama and Papa they have their hands full. And I cannot WAIT to have my hands full with little re-enactor babes someday as well. Heart. Melt. Ovary. Overload.
Old Fort Niagara: French & Indian War Encampment
This weekend was Old Fort Niagara‘s largest event of the year the French & Indian War Encampment!
He Who Makes Me Smile plays the role of the French and spends the entire weekend at the Fort wearing an outfit like this…
Or his *gnome* hat that looks like this…
I LOVE seeing him at the Fort, it makes him very happy which makes me very happy. I intended on getting down to the Fort in time for the battle, but I missed it on Saturday because I was still preparing for dinner…and then Sunday? Um, I spent in bed all day very, very sick.
But I did get to take a few photos of the event!
I fell in love with these two babies in camp. So. Freaking. Cute. I couldn’t take my eyes off the kiddos the entire time!
The grounds were covered with a marketplace of goods, far better than any mall I tell ya!
He Who Makes Me Smile purchased a bonnet for me. So I can dress up too!
Look how pretty! I love love love it!
And I now have new material so he can sew me a vest. Oh and matching stockings. Maybe two pair of matching stockings.
We toasted to good times…
And had a feast of delicious food.
Now I just have to get photos of He Who Makes Me Smile in ACTION while Blacksmithing or Shooting the Musket. Next time…there’s always a next time.
Wintertime at Old Fort Niagara
Weber Wedding Weekend – Charity and Gift Registries
Jennifer and Charles have chosen Roswell Park Alliance Foundation (Roswell Park Cancer Institute) and Old Fort Niagara as the beneficiaries of their charitable wedding activities. As your wedding gift, Jennifer and Charles suggest that you consider making a secure, tax-deductible donation in their honor.
Gift registries can be found at Amazon.com and Target.com
