Crown Point Tour

Dominating a large peninsula on the shores of Lake Champlain, the Crown Point State Historic Site and its 18th-century French and British fortifications offer a window into the Champlain Valley’s defining military history. Built between 1734 and 1737, the French Fort Saint-Frédéric served as a major defensive position in the Champlain corridor and for raids on British settlements. During the French and Indian War in 1759, the British took control of the site and constructed “His Majesty’s Fort of Crown Point,” the largest of its kind in North America at the time. On this outing, we will embark on an expert-led exploration of the remains of both forts, discussing the peninsula’s strategic importance and exemplary 18th-century military engineering, while learning about the site’s ongoing masonry restoration. After lunch, we will investigate current archaeological work at the site, view artifacts, and learn about the 1968 excavations that laid the foundation for current research. The tour will end with a whiskey tasting and tour at the AARCH Preservation Award-winning War Cannon Spirits, an 1820 sawmill turned restaurant, showroom, and event space.

This outing is led by Crown Point Historic Site Director Sam Huntington and Eric Nicolas from War Cannon Spirits.

The fee is $55 for AARCH members and $70 for non-members. This tour is first-come, first-served.

Please note that this outing will feature roughly 3 miles of walking on uneven and unpaved terrain.

This outing is funded, in part, by a Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership “Making of Nations” theme grant.