Crown Point
State Historic Site

518-597-4666

New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation
Saratoga-Capital Region

In 2009, many of the special events held at Crown Point State Historic Site focused on:

1) introducing the new high-definition video and new exhibits in the museum galleries
2) the 400th anniversary of Samuel Champlain’s 1609 voyage on Lake Champlain
3) the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War (including the 1759 “Crown Point Road”).

In 2010, the focus is on the site’s own 100th anniversary.

The impressive Fort St. Frédéric was constructed of limestone by the French military in 1734. The French had already occupied what is now called Chimney Point, starting in 1731. A small wooden stockade fort was built there and was the principle fortification until the completion of Fort St. Frédéric. The French claimed the Lake Champlain region north of Crown Point as part of Nouvelle France until 1759 when they retreated to the Richelieu River forts in the face of British General Amherst’s advancing army. The fortified wind-powered grist mill and the towering redoubt in Fort St. Frédéric were blown up by the French upon their departure. Amherst’s army almost immediately began construction of what was to become the largest British fort in America. With the conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763, the military significance of inland posts diminished. Crown Point became a base primarily used for policing the settlements nearby.

In April 1773, a chimney fire spread out of control, burning down the armory and the roofs of the other barracks, as well as causing the gunpowder magazine to blow up - destroying the wooden parapets. Subsequently, the military occupation used the outer works, such as the Grenadier Redoubt (now the site of the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse), the Light Infantry Redoubt, and Gage’s Redoubt. The remains of all three are still evident. Except for 1775-77, when the site was under American control, the British Army controlled Crown Point until the close of the War for American Independence. In fact, a British officer noted the visit of Continental Army Commander in Chief Gen. George Washington in July 1783, Crown Point being the furthest north that well-traveled George Washington ever ventured.

100 years ago, on April 22, 1910, the first 25 acres of land to come into the possession of New York State to create the Crown Point Reservation, were the “garrison grounds” upon which the ruins of Fort St. Frédéric and the British fort at Crown Point lie. The state has since, for the purpose of preservation, acquired additional land to protect this important archeological site, totaling now 360 acres, and operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. In addition, the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation operates a public campground across the road.

For information about the site or "Friends of Crown Point State Historic Site," one may contact historic site manager Tom Hughes at Crown Point State Historic Site, 21 Grandview Drive, Crown Point, NY 12928-2852, or at (518)597-4666, or via Thomas.Hughes@oprhp.state.ny.us.

The site’s global positioning system coordinates are: Lat.: 44° 1’ 45” N and Lon.: 73° 25’ 52” W.

 New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

[Crown Point Field Bake Oven]
[Champlain Memorial Lighthouse]