A Brief History of Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is located on East Fourth Street in Oswego, NY, overlooking Lake Ontario from the east side at the mouth of the Oswego River. It was originally built by the British in 1755 to help defend Oswego during the French and Indian War. At that time, it was called the Fort of the Six Nations. However, it was destroyed by the French in 1759. It was rebuilt and was a British fort until it was turned over to the Americans in 1796 after the signing of Jay’s Treaty. The British attacked and destroyed the Fort during the War of 1812. It was again rebuilt. It remained an active fort throughout the Civil War and beyond.
Fort Ontario Today
Fort Ontario is currently being restored to its 1868-1872 appearance. The enlisted men’s barracks are modeled to look as if company F, 42nd Infantry Regiment, were still being housed there (complete with a snoring soundtrack- which incidentally, scared the crap out of my kids, who I told not 5 minutes before, that the fort was supposedly haunted. Parenting at its best.)
Touring Fort Ontario
What is exceptionally neat about this fort is that visitors can visit the artillery casements. This is the section that is underground and behind the stonewalls. The fort is designed like a 5-pointed star. Each point is called a bastion, an angled part of a fortification that allows defensive fire in several directions. Just being able to walk in these areas is amazing and timeless.
Post Cemetery
There is also a post cemetery on the grounds of the Fort, which has graves going back to the revolution. However, many of these graves are of unknown soldiers. This fort really envelopes you with a sense of history. You can almost feel the history around you come to life. And, as for the fort being haunted… I didn’t see or hear anything, much to my own disappointment.
Children of school age will most likely find this fort fascinating. My own 2 kids had a blast going through all the buildings, exploring the casements, and walking the ramparts. It was a very chilly and windy day, but it didn’t feel so bad inside the fort. The wind was blocked (except on the rampart), and the buildings we explored were nice and warm. This is an excellent outing for families who enjoy history and really want an opportunity to experience it firsthand.
Haunted Fort
Fort Ontario is considered by many to be among the most haunted places in New York State. It has been visited by numerous “ghost hunting” shows and can be found listed on almost every website regarding haunted places in New York State. There have been hundreds of sights, and almost all have been during the day, during operating hours. Many people who have encountered spirits have mistaken them for reenactors.
Fort Ontario has been said to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. If you believe in that sort of thing, or even if you don’t, this fort is fun to explore. The casements, where a lot of the activity can be found, can be pretty spooky, so it is not a surprise that it makes some people feel a little creeped out.
Ghost Hunt with Central New York Ghost Hunters – October 14, 2023
$20/Person Tickets
Touring the Grounds
There is a beautiful park that surrounds the fort. The Fort is not open during the winter but the grounds never close. There are lot of benches that are set up around the grounds and face Lake Ontario. This is a good spot to get a photo of the Oswego Lighthouse.
Getting to Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario is located in the town of Oswego, directly on Lake Ontario.
Address: 1 East Fourth Street, Oswego, NY 13126
Other Places to Visit
Fair Haven Beach State Park
Fair Haven Beach State Park, located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, is one of the most under-appreciated New York State Parks. While most people are familiar with the fact that there is an exquisite beach at Fair Haven, what might surprise you is everything else available at this unbelievable New York State Park. Fair Have is far larger than it appears.
Chimney Bluffs State Park
This state park is a natural wonder located on Lake Ontario in the town of Wolcott. These giant formations were created by glaciers in the last ice age and have changed over time due to erosion from the weather. They are an impressive sight when viewed up close.
Winter Waterfalls
Waterfalls are great to visit all year round, but there is just something about winter waterfalls. The way the ice forms on the rocks, while water still finds its way to flow through. There is magic to be witnessed in the winter. Here is our list of New York State’s best winter waterfalls.
Have you toured Fort Ontario? Did you see anything supernatural activity? What did you enjoy most about this historic fort? Do you have a favorite historic New York destination? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.