Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Schumer-Secured Funding Will Ensure A Significant National Historical Site & One Of The Biggest North Country Economic Drivers Continues To Be Enjoyed By Families, Students, And Thousands Of Visitors
Schumer: Fort Ticonderoga Is A National Treasure And This Funding Will Help Preserve Its History For Generations To Come
Following years of advocacy for preserving Fort Ticonderoga, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced he has secured $500,000 for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Fort. The senator explained that over the nearly 250 year history of the Fort, much of the exterior walls have become damaged due to age and weather, and that this funding will prevent the loss or further degradation of this iconic historical site. Schumer visited Fort Ticonderoga in August 2017, and promised then to fight to deliver funding to repair the site’s aging structure, and in his first omnibus as majority leader, he has delivered on his promise. Schumer said that Fort Ticonderoga is a significant national historical site, is a vital community anchor in Essex County and driver of the North Country’s tourism economy, and that this preservation funding will ensure that students, families, and other visitors from around the world can continue to visit and learn about the site firsthand.
“The history of Fort Ticonderoga is significant to not only Upstate New York, but to our nation. This national treasure and economic anchor bring tens of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars in business every year to Main Streets throughout Essex County and the North Country,” said Senator Schumer. “Back when I visited Fort Ticonderoga in the summer of 2017, I made a promise that I would fight to help repair the Fort’s crumbling walls to preserve this piece of American history, and now I am glad to say a promise made is a promise kept. I am proud to deliver this critical funding to help ensure Fort Ticonderoga continues to tell the story of America’s history and attracts visitors from around the world to the North Country for generations to come.”
Beth Hill, President & CEO, the Fort Ticonderoga Association said, “Fort Ticonderoga is exceedingly grateful to Senator Schumer for securing this vital funding to stabilize and restore the fort’s iconic and historic walls. Built by the French in 1755, Fort Ticonderoga contains the most complete set of eighteenth-century masonry fortifications in the United States, but the walls are in need of major restoration due to continuous deterioration and weather impact. We thank Senator Schumer for recognizing that the walls need to be repaired and restored now to prevent the loss of very significant, and irreplaceable historic building fabric. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution (2025-2031), this preservation effort is critical and can serve as a central rallying point in the national semiquincentennial celebration.”
Fort Ticonderoga was the site of the first American victory of the Revolutionary War on May 10th, 1775, when Ethan Allan and the Green Mountain Boys captured the Fort from the British. The Fort now serves as a national tourism destination, museum, and educational site, bringing over 75,000 visitors to the North Country every year. It is estimated that Fort Ticonderoga generates more than $12 million in annual economic impact to the North Country region. Schumer said that the $500,000 he secured as part of the bipartisan spending package would support a larger campaign for the stabilization and restoration of the Fort’s iconic and historic walls, ensuring the site can continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Fort Ticonderoga is owned and operated by The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a non-profit educational organization.
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