Fort Crown Point

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Fort Crown Point
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Ruins of the fort
Ruins of the fort
Location: Crown Point, New York, NY
Nearest city: Burlington, VT
Coordinates: 44°01′45″N 73°25′52″W / 44.02917, -73.43111Coordinates: 44°01′45″N 73°25′52″W / 44.02917, -73.43111
Area: 11,800 acres (47.2 km²)
Built/Founded: 1759
Designated as NHL: November 24, 1968 [1]
Added to NRHP: November 24, 1968 [2]
NRHP Reference#: 68000033
Governing body: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

His Majesty's Fort of Crown Point or more simply Fort Crown Point was a British fort built in 1759 on Lake Champlain (on the border between modern New York State and Vermont in the United States) to secure the region against the French. The fort is located near the town of Crown Point, New York. Fort Crown Point was the largest earthen fort built in the United States.

Fort Crown Point was constructed by the British army under the command of Sir Jeffery Amherst following the capture of Fort Carillon (which he renamed Fort Ticonderoga) and the destruction of Fort St. Frédéric. Amherst used the construction of the fort as a means of keeping his men working through the winter 1759 after pushing the French into modern Canada.

Fort Crown Point was never directly assaulted. Never having the comforts of the smaller Fort Ticonderoga to the south, Fort Crown Point was generally used most for staging, then as a position in its own right.

After the French and Indian War the British left only a skeletal force at the fort, who yielded easily to the Americans in 1775 at the start of the American Revolution. The fort was used as a staging ground by Benedict Arnold during the American Revolution for his navy on Lake Champlain. After the destruction of that navy in 1776 during the Battle of Valcour Island, the fort was abandoned to the British in 1777. With no reason for attacks in that region the fort was abandoned after the end of the revolution in 1780.

The large earthen walls of Fort Crown Point are still visible today. While several fires during the fort's history have destroyed several of the buildings, the stone framings remain and have been partially restored.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968.[1],[3],[4]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Fort Crown Point. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service (2007-09-12).
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ ["Fort Crown Point (Amherst)", by Charles W. SnellPDF (228 KB) National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings]. National Park Service (1967-10-25).
  4. ^ [Fort Crown Point--Accompanying photos, from 1967.PDF (2200 KB) National Register of Historic Places Inventory]. National Park Service (1967-10-25).

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