Historic and Haunted Stop 4 - Fort George 

Introduction & History of Fort George



Blockhouses acted as Forts inside the Fort, being the last line of defense for the garrison. The building held the storage supply as well as the barracks
 


The earthen defenses outside the Fort. Reinforced with wood, they acted as the first line of defense for the Fort
 


Blockhouse #1 (on the left) houses an houses an exhibit that explores the question of who won the War of 1812 and the different perspectives of the Key players in the war. Blockhouse #2 (In the middle) housed the storehouse and the barracks. 60 people lived in the building during times of peace, and up to 90 in times of war.
 


Walking into the Fort you're greeted with the front gates and the sentry box. By day, the gates stood open with the sentry watching carefully over all who entered. By night the gates were locked tight
 

General Description

The War of 1812 comes to life inside Fort George

As the main British Headquarters for the Niagara Region, the Fort is an important part of Canadian history

The site of a key battle more than 200 years ago, costumed interpreters guide guests through what life was like during the War and the important role the Fort held.

The Fort features:

  • The Fort, which includes a number of buildings
  • A visitor center
  • A gift shop
  • Large park surrounding the area

Other seasonal features: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/activ

  • Parks Canada Skating Rink (Winter time only)
  • Ghost Tours (Summer/Fall)

Cost of admission for this location can be found at:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/visit/tarifs-fees


The History of the Fort

  • The British built Fort George between 1796 and 1799 to guard the mouth of the Niagara River and the village of Niagara on the Lake
  • During the War of 1812 the American campaign on the region focused on Fort George
  • In the Fall of 1812, artillery duels between Fort George and the American Fort Niagara damaged defenses on both sides. In May of 1813, a massive bombardment by the Americans pounded the Fort into ruin, with the powder magazine being the only building to survive.
  • The British fled and the Americans occupied both the Fort and the Town of Niagara on the Lake.
  • In the winter of 1813, the Americans abandoned both, burning the town to ground and fleeing the Fort.
  • The British reoccupied the Fort, then attacking and capturing Fort Niagara. They secured control of the Niagara Frontier and securing the fate of the war.
  • Following the war the Fort was left to ruin and abandoned in the late 1820's.
  • It was later reconstructed as a Depression era work project and opened to the public in the 1950's.


The Ghosts of Fort George

Fort George is probably one of the most notably haunted locations in Niagara on the Lake. Many ghosts are said to roam the Fort. Stories from the Fort include:

  • An angry British solider has been seen, heard and even felt around barracks #1
  • A young girl has been seen and heard on the 2nd floor of barracks #2
  • Many soldiers are randomly seen wandering the grounds of the Fort

Ghost Tour are offered at this location!

  • May & June, Sundays @ 8:30
  • July & August, Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday @ 8:30
  • Feature a number of ghosts stories from within the Fort
  • October (Halloween Tours) - Feature the same as the summer tours, but also stories and access to buildings that are not regularly shared!

Tickets and more information about the tours can be found at:

https://www.niagaraghosts.com/



Ownership and Management

The property is owned and operated by Parks Canada

Address

51 Queens Parade
Niagara on the Lake

Contact Information & Hours of Operation

Phone Number: (905)-468-6614

Email Address: ont-niagara@pc.gc.ca

Website: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/visi...

Hours of Operation: Open Daily May to October, Weekends only (Saturday/Sunday) November to April

  • 10:00 - 5:00


Accessiblilty

Every building within the Fort is accessible, with the exception of the Octagonal Blockhouse which requires climbing stairs to access.

Walking up the path towards the Fort

This point of interest is one of many on the GuideTags app –
a free digital interpretive guide that features thematic tours, routes, and discovery sessions,
and automatically tells geolocated stories about the places that surround us.
Download the app today, and start exploring!
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