An Encampment outside of Fort Stanwix. NPS PHOTO

Welcome to Fort Stanwix National Monument. We are pleased that you are helping us garrison the fort and we are looking forward to working with you. What follows are some rules, regulations, tips and advice to help ensure that your stay at the fort is enjoyable and rewarding for you, the park staff, and the visiting public. Please read these regulations and distribute them throughout your participating VIP group.

To finalize arrangements of your stay encamping here at Fort Stanwix, please contact our VIP Coordinator at 315-338-7730 or by VIP E-mail.

Top of Page

A group of VIP's marching in after a demonstration. NPS PHOTO.

I. Participating in an Event

Events at Fort Stanwix National Monument are open to French and Indian War, Rev. War and Native American umbrella organizations and/or the individual units within those organizations. Participation in the park's events are by invitation only, due to the limited amount of barracks space and land in and around the fort. If your unit would like to attend an event but have not received an invitation, please contact the park and we will do our best to accommodate you.

To receive information about taking part in the park's encampments and living history programs, please contact the park at:
Fort Stanwix National Monument
112 East Park Street
Rome, NY, 13440
(315) 338-7730

General park information can also be obtained at www.nps.gov/fost

Due to the space limitations, please make your troop returns as accurate as possible. Units should always be prepared to share quarters with other units. Do not "spread out" inside the quarters until you know for certain how much room you will have. Units should also be prepared to sleep "authentically" whenever possible (4 people to each bunk bed).

Items provided by Ft. Stanwix NM
A barracks room or officer's quarters containing wooden bunk beds or camp cots with straw filled mattress or open straw. Each room also contains one or two tables, benches and/or chairs. Enlisted men's quarters can hold 28-40 people, officer's quarters 2-4 people.

• A working fireplace in each barracks and room. Each room will have a fire bucket filled with sand.
  
• Firewood and water.
  
• Straw is provided for encampments in the field.
  
• Restrooms

The park has a small amount of cooking equipment (iron kettles, Dutch ovens, ladles, etc.) and blankets that can be borrowed on a first come, first serve basis. Borrowed items should be returned cleaned, folded, etc., when the unit is done with them.

When determining what equipment to bring to the fort, always keep in mind the 18th century appearance that must be maintained at the site. Any 20th century equipment and items must be hidden from view or left in vehicles during public hours. Most visitors to the site are coming for an "18th century experience" and modern intrusions will spoil their visit.

Getting to the Fort
Please reference our directions page in the next link: Fort Stanwix Directions
Maps that detail local area points of interest, restaurants, stores and motels can be sent on request.

Arrival and Departure
Most encampments at the park run from 9:00 am to 5:00 PM on Saturdays and 9:00 am to 3:00 PM on Sundays. Some encampments will feature Saturday night programs as well, usually running from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Units are welcome to begin arriving at 1:00 PM on the Friday afternoon prior to an event. Registration will remain open until 11:00 PM Friday night. Registration on Saturday runs from 9:00 am to 10:00 PM. Sunday registration starts at 9:00. Under normal circumstances, units and individuals will not be allowed into the park after 11:00 PM.

Units are welcome to stay beyond the 3:00 PM ending time on Sundays, but the unit must be packed up and ready to depart by 5:00 PM when the park closes to the public.

Please check in with a staff person before leaving the park. When you are ready to depart, please leave your barracks/room as you found it. The wood supply should be replenished, floor swept, fire smothered with sand and bedding put in an orderly manner. Please return any park equipment you may have borrowed.

Unloading/Loading of Equipment
(Please refer to the enclosed map of the park for the location of the access road, sallyport and participant parking.)

During fair and dry weather, participants may drive up the access road on the east side of the park to the fort's sallyport to unload and load equipment. Please stay on the road and unload/load your vehicle as quickly as possible to make room for others. The speed limit on the access road is 5 m.p.h. Please watch for pedestrian traffic during both daytime and nighttime hours.

When the access road is not available, participants may use the bus/handicap offloading area by the main gate on the south side of the fort for unloading/loading equipment.

Whether using the access road or the front gate entrance, be prepared to carry your equipment for short distances.

Participant Parking
Each vehicle will receive a parking permit that should be placed on the vehicle's dashboard for the weekend.

Participant vehicles will park in the Rome Historical Society Parking lot or the courthouse parking lot across the street. Please do not park in Saint Peter's Church parking lot.

Vehicles cannot be left by the sallyport or park trail overnight. This area needs to be kept clear in case of emergencies.

Unit Registration
Unless otherwise specified, unit registration is located in the park's Visitor Center. Please have everyone in the unit register as soon as possible after arriving at the site. Parking permits, event schedules and any other event specific information will be given out at the registration area.

While a unit is registered at the park, it will be considered as an organization operating under the site's "Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Program".

(Diagram of fort interior showing location of V.C., restrooms and lounge)

General Guidelines for Encampments
1. Participants must remember that while they are at the park they are official representatives of the National Park Service. Improper language, ill conduct, or unsafe actions directed towards visitors, NPS staff/volunteers or other reenactors reflects negatively upon the Park Service, the program and the volunteer. A good attitude towards others will help build support and appreciation for 18th century historic sites and living history programs.

2. It is expected that the encampment will be run in a military fashion that most closely represents the time period being portrayed. Units are expected to conduct themselves in a proper and military fashion while participating in the event. This pertains to campfollowers, as well as soldiers.

3. Evening "Quiet Time" in the fort/encampment area runs from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

4. Only soldiers on guard duty should be spending large amounts of time on the fort walls and casemate roofs. Children should be on the bastions and casemates only when supervised by an adult. Children are not permitted on the fort walls.

5. Children may only be in the ditch with adult supervision. Cannons and muskets are periodically fired out over the ditch, and unsupervised children can cause a safety hazard.

6. Certain areas of the fort are roped off for visitor safety. Please ensure that ropes are kept in place during the hours that the park is open to the public (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).

7. During public hours, enter and exit the fort through the main gate as much as possible. The sallyport is normally off limits to visitors and the sallyport door must be kept locked.

8. Prior to the encampment, an event commander will be appointed by the park. The commander will work with the park staff to set up a daily schedule and to help coordinate the daily activities.

9. There will be an officers/NCOs/park staff meeting at 9:00 am Saturday and Sunday morning to discuss concerns and to finalize the day's schedule.

10. If a unit wishes to present its own activity, program, demonstration, etc. it must first receive permission from the event commander and the park staff to ensure that it will not conflict with the established schedule.

11. Quarters within the fort must maintain an 18th century appearance at all times during public hours. This also includes evening programs when the fort is open to the public. The fort lounge has limited storage space for items like coolers or sleeping bags, but modern items brought into the site should be limited as much as possible. In addition, if you have a cell phone and need to make a call, please step outside of the fort to use it.

12. Units are welcome to use the various facilities within the fort lounge, but please limit the amount of time spent there. Do not allow the area to become a "hang out".

13. Fires inside the fort may only be built in the fireplaces unless specific permission to use other areas is given by park staff. Fires on the grounds of the fort may only be built in areas designated by the park staff.

14. Do not build your fires any larger than you need for cooking/heating purposes.

15. Do not hang any draft or dampening clothes in front of the fireplaces. To achieve the best draft, build the fire against the back of the fireplace.

16. Fires will never be left unattended.

17. A unit will not share any food it cooks with any visitors.

18. Dishes should be washed in the fort lounge and food waste deposited in the trash container there. Do not use the public restrooms for after-meal clean up.

19. No alcoholic beverages are permitted within the park without prior approval. The consumption of alcohol will be in accordance with the guidelines and laws set by the Park Superintendent and the State of New York. Proper receptacles will be provided for can and bottle removal for approved after hour activities. Anyone impaired by alcoholic consumption will be removed by the Rome Police Department.

20. The possession and use of controlled substances within the park, other than those proscribed by a physician and used in accordance with applicable laws, is prohibited. Anyone found under the influence of drugs will be removed from the park by the Rome Police Department.

21. The possession and use of weapons, other than those approved for and used in accordance with the regulations of the encampment are prohibited.

22. Gambling within the park is prohibited.

23. No pets are allowed during encampments.

24. Smoking is not allowed in any of the park's buildings. Smoking is allowed in the outside areas of the park. Please discard any smoking waste in trash containers. Please refrain from smoking modern cigarettes, cigars, etc. in view of the visiting public so that the proper 18th century atmosphere is maintained.

25. There are no pay phones within the park. Under most circumstances, the park phones are only available for emergency situations.

Failure to follow these guidelines could result in the removal
of the offending person(s) and/or unit(s) from the park.


Additional Services Available in the Rome Area

Urgent Care, Hospitals, & Pharmacies Facilities
Rome Medical Group
1801 Black River Blvd.
General Information: (315) 337-3770

Mohawk Glen
Griffiss Business Park
91 Perimeter Rd.
(315) 337-2156

Ridge Mills Medical Center
Rome-Westernville Rd.
(315) 337-2500

Rome Memorial Hospital
1500 North James St.
General Information: (315) 338-7000
Emergency: (315) 338-7035

Faxton-St. Luke's Hospitals
Faxton: 1676 Sunset Ave, Utica
St. Luke's: 1656 Champlin Ave, New Hartford
General Information, both hospitals: (315) 624-6000
Emergency, Faxton: (315) 624-5226
Emergency, St. Luke's: (315) 624-6112

St. Elizabeth's Hospital
2209 Genesee St., Utica
General Information: (315) 798-8100
Emergency: (315) 798-8111

Eckerd's Drugs
117 Erie Blvd.
(315) 336-2310
1616 Black River Blvd.
(315) 339-5290

Rite-Aid Drugs
1727 Black River Blvd.
(315) 336-8890
1124 Erie Blvd. West
(315) 337-4120

The Prescription Center
132 North Washington
(315) 339-5750
(315) 337-7050

Restaurants — Within Walking Distance of the Park
Iron Kettle Coffee Shop
Breakfast & Lunch Only
215 Dominick St.
(315) 336-9543

Cianfrocco's Subs and Wings
235 East Dominick St.
(315) 336-1972

China Inn
233 East Dominick St.
(315) 337-9826

Denny's
200 South James St.
(315) 339-6390

Additional Restaurants
Pizza Hut
1127 Erie Blvd. West
(315) 337-7500

China House
503 North James St.
(315) 339-8888

King's Buffet
1142 Erie Blvd. West
(315) 336-9833

Applebee's Grill and Bar
1794 Black River Blvd.
(315) 339-1988

Dunkin Doughnuts
1701 Black River Blvd.
(315) 339-3700

There are also a number of fast food restaurants along Black River and Erie Blvd.

Supermarkets/Convenience Stores Department Stores
P&C Supermarket
217 Erie Blvd. 

Wal-Mart Super Center
5815 Rome Taberg Rd.
(315) 338-7900

Big Lots
1146 Erie Blvd. West
(315) 334-1330

Price Chopper
Black River Blvd.
(315) 339-1919

Sunoco Nice-N-Easy Shoppe
East Dominick St.
(315) 337-2807
ATM available

Top of Page

II. Personal/Public Safety and Emergency Situations

As members of the park's VIP program during encampments, we are asking your assistance in ensuring that everyone has a safe and enjoyable park experience. The following points should be kept in mind to help ensure the safety of NPS staff, volunteers and the visiting public:

• Take note of anyone acting in a suspicious manner and/or asking questions about park security procedures, alarm systems, etc. Report situations of this sort to a park employee.
  
• Take note of any unattended bags, packages, backpacks etc. and report it to a park employee.
  
• Watch for visitors going behind ropes, on top of walls or into other areas not open to the public. Ask them politely to leave the restricted area(s).
  
• Be mindful of splinters when doing activity around the fort's walls. Ask visitors to refrain from running their hands along wooden surfaces.
  
• There is no running within the fort. This pertains to NPS staff and volunteers as well as the visiting public.
  
• First-aid kits are located within the park lounge and visitor's center.
  

Emergency Procedures
The two most common emergency situations during encampments at the park are personal injury incidents and fire.

Personal Injury
In the case of personal injuries, 911 will be notified unless the injured party specifically refuses it.
As soon as possible after the injury occurs, an accident report detailing the incident will be filled out. The injured party will need to provide specific information as to the causes of the injury in addition to necessary contact information.

Fire
Each room within the living history area is equipped with a heat detector. If the fire alarm sounds within the fort, the following procedures should be followed:

• All buildings and rooms in the fort are evacuated. Everyone will gather in the center of the parade ground. The sallyport and main gate areas need to be clear so that fire personal and trucks have quick access into the fort.
  
• The park staff will find the location of the alarm and make an initial determination as to the nature of the alarm (false or actual emergency).
  
• If there is an actual fire, park staff under the guidance of the Rome Fire Department will inform everyone as to the evacuation route(s) to be used.
  

Top of Page

Living Historians participate in a weapons demonstration during an encampment. NPS PHOTO

III. Historic Weapons and Black Powder Regulations

National Park Service Historic Weapons Demonstration Policy

All uses of historic weapons in parks will strictly comply with the approved Director's Orders on Historic Weapons Demonstrations Safety Standards, and they will follow the approved NPS manuals for the particular weapon being used.

Battle reenactments and demonstrations of battle tactics that involve exchange of fire between opposing lines, the taking of casualties, hand-to-hand combat, or any other form of simulated warfare will be prohibited in all parks. Battle reenactments generate an atmosphere inconsistent with the memorial qualities of battlefields and other military sites placed in NPS trust.

While the above policy does not completely restrict units from maneuvering in an opposing manner during demonstrations, the prohibition against firing at one another and "taking casualties" cannot be stressed too strongly. We want to be able to tell who is truly in need of emergency services; so any sort of "play-acting" will not be tolerated. The opposing lines restriction also applies to "sparing" demonstrations such as fencing.

Failure to abide by the above policies will result in the
removal of the offending person(s) or unit(s) from the park site.

General Guidelines for Using Historic Weapons During an Encampment
1. Weapons demonstrations are restricted to reproduction black powder weapons. No original black powder weapons will be used.

2. Only full-scale reproduction artillery pieces can be used for cannon demonstrations.

3. Pistols may not be used in weapons demonstrations.

4. Only slow match with loose powder or quill primers can be used to fire cannons. The use of port-fires is prohibited.

5. At least 6 qualified people must be on a cannon crew for the piece to be fired.

6. There must be a 15-minute waiting period between each shot loaded and fired from a cannon.

7. At Fort Stanwix National Monument, an individual must be at least 16 years of age to fire a musket/rifle. To take part in a cannon firing demonstration the individual must be at least 18.

8. Each unit will undergo a safety inspection of all firearms, artillery pieces, ammunition, primers and other related equipment by the park's historic weapons supervisor before being permitted to participate in a firing demonstration. Every musket or rifle must be equipped with a proper working flashguard and hammerstall.

9. Units will demonstrate proficiency in the proper 18th century manual of arms for their weapon(s). This includes safety steps and misfire procedures.

10. The park's historic weapons supervisor must personally authorize and oversee all firing demonstrations conducted during the encampment. The historic weapons supervisor has the right to cancel a demonstration at any time and restrict individuals and/or units from taking part in any further firing demonstrations at the park if safety guidelines are not being met.

11. Any unauthorized firing of weapons in the park could result in the removal of. individuals and/or units from the encampment.

12. Visitors are not allowed to touch or handle any weapon or equipment containing black powder. Visitors may touch or handle unloaded weapons provided the weapon is kept under the physical control of the demonstrator. Visitors may not handle edged weapons of any sort.

13. Firearms must not be left unattended at any time. This includes times when they are lodged in the barracks or other quarters.

14. All Firearms (and cannons) will be handled as if loaded at all times. Firearms (and cannons) will NEVER be pointed in the direction of any person.

Guidelines for Handling of Black Powder Ammunition
Within the following guidelines, "black powder" refers to traditional sporting grade gunpowder. The use of synthetic gunpowders (such as pyrodex) and the use of blasting powders within firearms and cannons are prohibited.

Artillery will fire only Cannon Grade or "1F" (very coarse) black powder. Loose priming or quill primers can be made up of "2F" or "3F" (medium coarse or fine) black powder.

Muskets and rifles will normally fire only "2F" black powder. With the approval of the park's black powder inspector, smaller charges of "3F" (fine grain) black powder can be used. "3F" black powder can be used as the priming charge in rifles.

1. Advance notice will be given to units as to whether the park will supply them with black powder cartridges or if they will have to bring their own.

2. If the park is supplying cartridges for an encampment, units will not bring any cartridges with them, unless otherwise approved by NPS staff.

3. If a unit is bringing it's own cartridges the rounds will be inspected to ensure they follow accepted NPS safety guidelines.

4. Black powder may only be brought into the park as prepared cartridges. Bulk or loose powder is prohibited.

5. Any cartridges brought in by a unit will be turned over to the park's historic weapons supervisor and lodged in the park magazine. Receipts will be given to each unit and any unused rounds returned to the unit at the end of the encampment.

6. Cartridges will be issued out to units prior to any firing demonstrations, and all unused rounds returned to the park's magazine immediately after the demonstration is over. Firing demonstrations are the only time units should have cartridges with them.

7. If an individual has a dummy round (a cartridge with ball and filler material) it should be clearly marked to forestall any confusion.

8. Live cartridges with ball are prohibited.

9. Powder horns and priming horns may be used during demonstrations, but they should contain only what powder is needed for the immediate demonstration at hand.

Top of Page

Officer's Call at an encampment. NPS PHOTO

If you have read the proceding rules and regulations carefully, are part of an 18th century French and Indian War or Revolutionary War living history/reenactment group, and would still like to participate in an upcoming Fort Stanwix events please contact the VIP Coordinator through VIP E-mail.
This will ensure that proper quarters and supplies can be reserved during the event for all participating and that all involved will have an enjoyable time.

Top of Page

go to:
Fort Stanwix VIP

Fort Stanwix main page