With the French flag flying inside the walls of the Fort, July 3 – 5 marked the 250th  anniversary of the French & Indian war.  In July 1759 a British army, accompanied by almost 1,000 Iroquois allies, laid siege to French-held Fort Niagara.  After 19 days, the fort's walls had been breached by artillery fire, and a French and Indian relief column was defeated just a mile from the fort in a bloody morning battle.  On July 25, the French surrendered the fort, ushering in an era of British control of the Great Lakes.



(Just think - we could’ve been speaking French!)  It has been a fun spring and summer at the Fort with actors from Niagara University portraying French and British officers, soldiers, Grenadiers and Native Americans inside and outside the Fort.  But 4th of July weekend was just great with 2500 re-enactors participating in extensive battles, a nighttime artillery bombardment with fireworks, naval forces, and large living history camps filled with people portraying 18th century soldiers and artisans…. a pretty amazing sight!  There were thousands of tents, with their inhabitants actually cooking in cast iron and copper on open fires.

Although it appears the British are losing ground (and soldiers) they did end up taking the Fort in the end. There are quite a few other events taking place through the year, even if you aren’t into history the view is fantastic, Lake Ontario is clear, and so far every day I’ve been there has been sunny and beautiful!  Great for a picnin and a tan.