Experience an immersive living history event at Fort Ticonderoga highlighting the return of French soldiers to Carillon (now called Fort Ticonderoga). On Saturday May 9 through Sunday May 10, visitors will step into New France in 1756 as French soldiers return by boats from posts down Lake Champlain. This event will kick off the 2015 season at Fort Ticonderoga and capture the site’s epic story on land and water.

Event tickets are included with daily admission. Two-day admission ticket discounts apply. Members of Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga Ambassador Pass holders, and children age 4 and under are free. For more information, call 518-585-2821 or visit fortticonderoga.org.

Living History Event:  1756 at Fort Ticonderoga

“‘Before Long We Would Have Reinforcements’ Living History Event will trace the footsteps of French soldiers as they struggle to guard the unfinished earth, stone, and log walls of Fort Carillon in the midst of construction,” said Stuart Lilie, Senior Director of Interpretation at Fort Ticonderoga. “This event is designed to be a rich experience for both participants and visitors alike. It will investigate the situation and factors that brought a French army across an ocean and up the lakes and rivers through the wilderness of Canada. Visitors will see the French army pull their oars through the waves of Lake Champlain to join their comrades at Carillon anxiously awaiting the return of reinforcements.”

Saturday morning, with a small flotilla of bateaux, Fort Ticonderoga interpretative staff and re-enactors will row and sail their way up Lake Champlain to arrive by 2:00 pm at Fort Ticonderoga. This is a recreation of the final stride of French soldiers travelling to Carillon, just as it happened on May 9, 1756.

Every day is an event at Fort Ticonderoga and every year is a new experience. It is the only site in the world that tells a new story each year through dynamic historical interpretation. This year is 1756 at Fort Ticonderoga; a fundamental year in the construction of the Fort and the jardin du Roi (King’s Garden). Guests will discover 1756 from the French perspective and explore how it took an empire to sustain and fight for a continent. Daily programming will bring to life this epic story through tours, soldier’s life programs, historic trades, soldier’s gardening, hands-on family programs, museum exhibitions, and daily boat tours aboard Fort Ticonderoga’s new 60 ft. cruise boat, the Carillon.

Visitor Schedule

Saturday, May 9

9:30 AM Fort Ticonderoga Opens for Visitation

10:15 AM Fort Guided Tour

From the south of France to North America, trace the footsteps of French soldiers who found themselves at Carillon (Ticonderoga) to defend New France. Examine the race to build French Fort Carillon and British Fort William Henry and the raiders who stalked each other in between. Explore on-going preservation efforts that keep their memory alive for today and generations to come.

11:00 AM Musket Demonstration

They stood in a big open field and fired away… right? Imagine what it was like in 1756 to guard the unfinished earth, stone, and log walls of Fort Carillon as it was under construction. Witness these professional French soldiers as they keep a cool head to load, aim, and fire muskets to hold this strategic ground.

11:30 AM Breaking Ground: A Tour of the Historic Gardens

From military garrison gardens to a secluded colonial revival commemorative spectacle of color and light, explore one of the oldest cultivated landscapes in America. Discover the Ticonderoga peninsula’s layers of horticultural history.

12:30 PM As Sacred as Their Children: The Implements and Riches of the Indians

See the labors of love created with vibrant colored beads, porcupine quill, and moose hair in hand as native craftsmen passed the hours wintering at Carillon. Explore the importance and meaning behind these highly decorated everyday items carried by native warriors and families alike. Meet the makers behind adorning these warriors to appear better, “than any dandy in France.”

1:15 PM Down to the Water Tour

From a temporary fort to soldiers’ huts, an artillery park and bake ovens, trace the map of Carillon in the spring of 1756. Anxiously awaiting the return of reinforcements, follow a French soldier down to the site of the original French dock at Carillon. Examine the situation and factors that brought a French army across an ocean and up the lakes and rivers through the wilderness of Canada. Look down the lake and see the French army pull their oars through the waves of Lake Champlain row to join their comrades at Carillon.

2:00 PM Musket Demonstration

Imagine what it was like in 1756 for French soldier’s to be fighting in the rugged climate and terrain of New France. See how alpine tactics from Europe were adapted by French soldiers to North America where there might be a ranger behind any tree.

3:00PM Fort Guided Tour

From the south of France to North America, trace the footsteps of French soldiers who found themselves at Carillon (Ticonderoga) to defend New France. Examine the race to build French Fort Carillon and British Fort William Henry and the raiders who stalked each other in between. Explore on-going preservation efforts that keep their memory alive for today and generations to come.

4:00 PM Mount Defiance: Witness to History Tour

Oh the stories this graceful hill could tell overlooking Fort Ticonderoga! Ascend to summit of Mount Defiance to get the bird’s eye view of this epic military landscape and learn how this height shaped the Ticonderoga’s history.

5:00 PM Fort Ticonderoga Closes for Visitation

Sunday, May 10

9:30 AM Fort Ticonderoga Opens for Visitation

10:15 AM Fort Guided Tour

From the south of France to North America, trace the footsteps of French soldiers who found themselves at Carillon (Ticonderoga) to defend New France. Examine the race to build French Fort Carillon and British Fort William Henry and the raiders who stalked each other in between. Explore on-going preservation efforts that keep their memory alive for today and generations to come.

11:00 AM Musket Demonstration

They stood in a big open field and fired away… right? Imagine what it was like in 1756 to guard the unfinished earth, stone, and log walls of Fort Carillon as it was under construction. Witness these professional French soldiers as they keep a cool head to load, aim, and fire muskets to hold this strategic ground.

11:30 AM Breaking Ground: A Tour of the Historic Gardens

From military garrison gardens to a secluded colonial revival commemorative spectacle of color and light, explore one of the oldest cultivated landscapes in America. Discover the Ticonderoga peninsula’s layers of horticultural history.

12:30 PM “One of the best in all of Canada”: Construction Continues at Fort Carillon

Follow Fort Ticonderoga’s Curator of Collections, Matthew Keagle, around, over, and inside Fort Carillon to discover the true story of its construction. Explore the details that make the fort of 1756 so drastically different than what we know it to be today.

1:15 PM Fort Guided Tour

From the south of France to North America, trace the footsteps of French soldiers who found themselves at Carillon (Ticonderoga) to defend New France. Examine the race to build French Fort Carillon and British Fort William Henry and the raiders who stalked each other in between. Explore on-going preservation efforts that keep their memory alive for today and generations to come.

2:00 PM Musket Demonstration

They stood in a big open field and fired away… right? Imagine what it was like in 1756 to guard the unfinished earth, stone, and log walls of Fort Carillon as it was under construction. Witness these professional French soldiers as they keep a cool head to load, aim, and fire muskets to hold this strategic ground.

3:00PM Fort Guided Tour

From the south of France to North America, trace the footsteps of French soldiers who found themselves at Carillon (Ticonderoga) to defend New France. Examine the race to build French Fort Carillon and British Fort William Henry and the raiders who stalked each other in between. Explore on-going preservation efforts that keep their memory alive for today and generations to come.

4:00 PM Mount Defiance: Witness to History Tour

Oh the stories this graceful hill could tell overlooking Fort Ticonderoga! Ascend to summit of Mount Defiance to get the bird’s eye view of this epic military landscape and learn how this height shaped Ticonderoga’s history.

5:00PM Fort Ticonderoga Closes for Visitation

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• Scout Overnight Program Offered at Fort Ticonderoga (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
• Fort Ticonderoga Purchases Carillon Cruise Boat: Waterway Tours Begin Spring 2015 (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)