Fort Stanwix National Monument - The Story of Bastion 4: Build A Better Future (U.S. National Park Service)

Fort Stanwix has gone through many changes in its long life. It has burned, flooded out, and rotted to the ground. It has had many different uses, too. It was first built by the British to keep the French from taking over New York and the fur trade industry. It was used against the British in the American Revolutionary War to win our Independence.

The story of Fort Stanwix did not end with the Siege or the American Revolution. The war between America and Britain lasted from 1775 until 1783. But the war continued in America between Native Americans and the new United States of America.

a piece of paper begins to yellow, it has faint black lines on it and red dots to mark things

This treaty is kept at the National Archives in Washington, DC.

In October 1784, Americans and Native Americans came back to Fort Stanwix to make peace with each other. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix brought peace to America.

The fort was used again during the War of 1812 another war between America and Britain. Supplies were shipped to the fort just like in the Revolutionary War. This time the fort was not used to defend New York. This time the fort was used as a supply fort, shipping food and supplies to new forts to the north and west.

a drwing of a star shaped fort with buldings drawn around it, and roads through it

Can you see where people built things on top of the fort remains?

As new people moved into area of the old fort, people used parts of the fort to build their homes. Some people even built their houses right on top of the rotting fort. Soon the modern city of Rome covered the fort over. Many people forgot the fort had ever been there.

In 1935, Fort Stanwix was declared a National Monument to help people remember the important events that happened there. But without the fort to see, people began to forget again.

a carefully dug hole with dirty labeled itemes inside. black and white

nps.gov

These are only a few of the artifacts that were found during the reconstruction!

When America got older, people wanted to have a big birthday party. America was about to be 200 years old. We would be celebrating the country's Bicentennial in 1976. People wanted to do something special, something that would last a long time. Americans did not want to forget ever again how important Freedom and Liberty are to all people in the world.

The people of Rome gave a special birthday present to the World. They gave the land that had once been Fort Stanwix to the National Park Service. With this land, the Park Service could rebuild the fort just like it was in 1777.

people sit in a trench, buildings surround them, you can see the remains of a crumbling foundation, they sort through it.

National Park Service Historic Photograph Collection

These Archeologists had to dig underneath the city to find what was in the south east bastion. One of the later features of the fort is this bakehouse with its fireplace and oven. Approximate Year: 1970. Fort Stanwix Archeological (Excavation) Unit.

The fort had been buried under the city of Rome for almost 200 years. The Park Service had to make sure where the fort really was. To check the location and shape of the fort, the Park Service brought in archeologists. These scientists looked for things left behind by people long ago. These things are called artifacts. Over 400,000 artifacts were found. They found the fort was square shaped.

The archeologists only had three years to work on the site. They had to stop and let the construction workers come in and rebuild the fort. These people worked as hard as the soldiers who first built the fort back in 1758. They built the square shaped fort just like it looked over 200 years earlier with four equal sides. They were done in time to open the fort to visitors for the Bicentennial in 1976.

above, you can see a patch of green, then a brown outline of logs and earth. trails circle this square design

This picture shows how the fort looks today as a National Monument.

Today, Fort Stanwix National Monument is here for the enjoyment of all people. It is here to help us remember how important Freedom and Liberty are in the World.

As a Junior Ranger, you can help by remembering the stories of Fort Stanwix.

1. After reading the story, design your own fort.

Forts are made in different shapes.

Match the geometric shape of each fort with its description.