Visiting Old Fort Niagara

Do you enjoy exploring places that give you the impression of stepping back in time? If your answer is yes, then Old Fort Niagara should definitely go on your list! I hate to admit it, but Old Fort Niagara wasn’t even on my radar until very recently. And to be honest, if it wasn’t for the current pandemic, I’m not sure I would have ever made it there.

Since COVID-19 started many aspects of our lives have changed, but one, in particular, is our travel plans. We are needing to stay closer to home these days. If we want to go out and explore, we’re needing to do it more locally. As frustrating as it is, there are definitely positives to take from that! With these current circumstances, we’re now able to have more gratitude and appreciation for the beauty right in our own backyards.

I’ve spent most of my life residing in Western New York and I am now back living in my hometown of Buffalo for the first time in almost five years. I always thought I knew my city pretty well and thought I’d seen all of the highlights. Boy was I wrong. It has been such a great experience revisiting some places that I haven’t been to in a while and going to others for the very first time.

Old Fort Niagara was a “very first time” experience for me a couple of weekends ago. I was completely taken back by the beauty, history, and quaint nearby towns. Located in Youngstown, New York, it is a short 30-minute drive from Buffalo and just over the bridge from Ontario, Canada. It is a perfect day trip from plenty of Western New York areas and with so much else to see within a small radius, it could also be a wonderful weekend trip.

A Little History & Background Information

Old Fort Niagara’s history spans more than 300 years. Because of its location on the Great Lakes, it played a critical role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the War of 1812. During these wars, it was vital to have a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River because it controlled access to the Great Lakes and beyond. 

The fort was originally built in 1726 by the French. Its purpose was to protect the interests of New France in North America.  Britain eventually gained control of the fort in 1759 during the French and Indian War and managed to keep control throughout the American Revolution. The United States took over in 1796 but Britain recaptured the fort during the War of 1812. Finally, in 1815 the United States regained control and it eventually served as a peaceful border post. Old Fort Niagara continued to serve a purpose until its last army units were withdrawn in 1963.

Touring Old Fort Niagara

There is plenty to see on the Old Fort Niagara tour. Tours are self-guided so you can move at your own pace. There are also employees located at all of the main points of interest to answer any questions. If you’d like additional information before starting your tour, there is an orientation video that you can watch at the visitor center.

There are multiple structures and buildings that you will be walking through on your tour. One of the most iconic is The French Castle which is the oldest building at Old Fort Niagara. The French Castle was designed by Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Lery and was constructed to look more like a house than an actual fort. There are two floors to explore in this building where you will see exactly where the soldiers lived, slept, and ate.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The North Redoubt, built in 1771, is another two-story building. The ground floor was used for housing powder magazines. When you climb the two flights of steep stairs and make your way up to the very top, you will have one of the best 360-degree views of the entire fort. It’s definitely worth the climb!

Upon entering and exiting the fort you will pass by The Log Cabin, which was a newer addition to the fort, being built in 1932. Today it serves as a food and drink stand, so if you’re thirsty or have worked up an appetite, this is a perfect place to stop by.

There are 18 points of interest in total at Old Fort Niagara. I’d suggest giving yourself enough time so you don’t feel rushed and be sure to take a brochure at the visitor center. It will highlight each individual point and give you a little summary of each stop.

Tickets & Admission

Old Fort Niagara is open all year round with the exception of New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas day. Their current hours of operation are 10 am to 4 pm daily.

Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center and cost $15 for adults, $10 for children 6-12 years old, and free for children 5 years old and under. For more information, check out their website here.

What You Need To Know In Regards To COVID-19 

There are precautions being taken at Old Fort Niagara to ensure the safety of the staff and patrons during this time of COVID-19. When entering the visitor center or any of the buildings in Old Fort Niagara masks must be worn. Employees receive daily touchless temperature checks and patrons are advised not to visit Old Fort Niagara if they are unwell. Overall, I had a very safe, comfortable experience visiting during COVID-19. 

Exploring The Surrounding Areas of Old Fort Niagara

As I said earlier, Old Fort Niagara is located in Youngstown, which is an adorable, quaint town with a population of less than 2,000 people. Their “Main Street” is a small, charming road with some shops & restaurants. If you take a little wander around you will most likely stumble upon their Yacht Club which is right on their picturesque waterfront. It is a very lovely area and such a nice change of pace and scenery from your typical larger towns.

About 14 minutes away from Youngstown is Lewiston, New York, another pleasant Western NY town. Lewiston has a bigger population with over 15,000 people but is still extremely charming and has so much character to it. I would definitely recommend taking a walk around Lewiston and maybe stopping somewhere for lunch. You will be mesmerized by the small-town vibes and the quaint shops and restaurants. 

Niagara Falls is also in the neighborhood, roughly 30 minutes from Old Fort Niagara. If you’re visiting this area for the first time, I would highly suggest spending some time at this incredible natural wonder of the world. Check out my recent blog post about things to do on the American side of Niagara Falls for ideas on planning your trip there.

Old Fort Niagara is one of those special places that really does give you the impression of stepping back in time. The history is rich, the structures are beautiful and there is so much to learn in an afternoon spent here. For anyone who lives in the Western New York area (or is willing to travel) and is a little tired of being stuck indoors at this point, I would highly suggest spending a day walking through history at Old Fort Niagara. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions as I’d be happy to answer them. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and you learned something new about this interesting landmark. Happy travels!