British
British coat-of-arms
South Redoubt (1770)
The British constructed this building
before the American Revolution to protect the main gate and provide a platform
for cannon. The ground floor was a fortified gateway with guard room for twenty
soldiers located above. On December 19, 1813 attacking British troops had to
break down the door of the South Redoubt to subdue its American defenders.
cannon of the period
uniform of the British soldier
parade ground
North Redoubt (1771)
The two redoubts were literally forts within a fort. The main difference between them is that the North Redoubt originally had a powder magazine on its ground floor. Both buildings incorporate two styles popular in 18th century Britain - classical Roman arches and doorways in the stone walls topped by Chinese-style roofs.
British soldier reenactor
South Reboubt
muster
marching
past the Rush - Bagot Memorial
The Land Defenses (1755-1872)
The War of 1812 was Fort Niagara’s last armed conflict, and it thereafter served as a peaceful border post. The garrison expanded beyond the walls following the Civil War. Fort Niagara was a barracks and training station for American soldiers throughout both World Wars. The last army units were withdrawn in 1963. Today, the U.S. Coast Guard represents the only military presence on the site.
Coast Guard presence
Although rebuilt in concrete and
brick in the 1860s, these walls follow the lines laid out by the French in 1755.
The center of the wall is pierced by the Sally Port, constructed in the 1860s.
The Outer Works include the large
triangular "ravelin," smaller earthworks and a ditch. The ditch was kept dry
and, with the other outworks, protected the main walls from cannon fire and
assault. The Outer Works are restored to their appearance during the siege of
1759, during which the British established gun batteries within 100 yards (91m)
of the Fort. The site of the nearest battery was among the buildings visible by
the lake shore. Intense cannon fire from that point nearly demolished the Fort's
North Bastion
entrance to casemate gallery (1872)
24 pound cannon
The earthwork walls of Fort Niagara were reinforced with concrete and brick between 1863 and 1872 due to tensions with British Canada over the American Civil War. Tempers had cooled by 1872, and guns were never mounted here. Steps descend to the South Casemate Gallery designed to contain four 24-pounder cannon whose fire would interlock with that of the North Gallery visible across the ditch. Firing slits for riflemen and a powder magazine are located at the end of the gallery
24 pound cannon in firing slit
powder room
