From Memory to Monument:

Blueprint plan of Fort Stanwix. (Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 31500)

For the past 40 years, Fort Stanwix has stood as a reconstruction nestled in the heart of Rome, New York. The road to reconstructing the 18th century past was led by members of the Rome community and forever changed the City of Rome.

These images and film clips visually represent the process of reconstructing Fort Stanwix. This exhibit is also on display at two venues that each provide a different perspective of these events. If you would like to experience this exhibit in person, be sure to visit the park's visitor center and Rome Historical Society.

The 1927 commemorative event featured Admiral Richard E. Byrd.

Courtesy of Rome Historical Society (www.romehistoricalsociety.org)

Welcome Friends! Welcome Strangers! On this Greatest of Great Days
Fort Stanwix and Oriskany Come Forth from the Distant Past, Reincarnate!
May the Memory of this Event be Cherished by You,
as Will Your Presence Always be to Our People, a Charming Recollection
~ Headline of Rome Daily Sentinel, August 6, 1927.

Archeological excavations led by the Fort Stanwix Museum first uncovered remains of Fort Stanwix in 1965.

Courtesy of Rome Historical Society (www.romehistoricalsociety.org)

A Fort

Interest in the site continued to grow in the community and the Fort Stanwix Museum, operated by the Rome Historical Society (RHS), set out to locate the archeological remains of Fort Stanwix.

J. Duncan Campbell points to an archeological profile. J. Duncan Campbell points to an archeological profile.

Courtesy of Rome Historical Society (www.romehistoricalsociety.org)

Former Airforce Colonel, J. Duncan Campbell, “boldly argued that more than 60 percent of the original fort features were still recoverable, leaving open the door for further archaeological work.”
~ Reconstructing the Past and Partnering for the Future: Fort Stanwix National Monument, 2008.

Newspaper headline from 1969 showing the proposed urban renewal plans that include reconstructing Fort Stanwix.

Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 31500

A Community

“I think that when National Park Service finally made the commitment that as
part of the urban renewal project, they would rebuild Fort Stanwix,
that is the real impetus...and gave the project a national prominence.”
~ William Flinchbaugh, Executive Director City of Rome Urban Renewal, 1976.

Duration:

2 minutes, 40 seconds

Short video clip from the film "Made in America: Rome New York" that highlights the planning and urban renewal aspects of reconstructing Fort Stanwix. (Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 22977)

The City of Rome donated 16 acres of land to the National Park Service to reconstruct Fort Stanwix. Once the buildings were removed from the site, archeological excavations could begin.

Fort Stanwix National Monument Collections, FOST 22153

“The National Park Service began archeological investigations in July, 1970, under Dick Ping Hsu…"
~ Casemates and Cannonballs: Archeological Investigations at Fort Stanwix National Monument, 1975.


Dick Hsu's Field Journal Entry:
July 15, 1970

We began work at 8:10 AM. It was overcast and cool. There was no slumpage during the night, but there was some quite regularly during the day. It began raining steadily at 8:45 AM. The demolition of the gym and swimming pool began at 10:45 AM. The entire building was down by 4:00 PM. I continued explorations in the Carpenters Temple in the afternoon. At 4:00 PM we erected a fence across Willett Street. Afternoon was cool and partly cloudy. We began extending Excavation Unit #1. Had Benedict and Getzels removing dark ground features of an old fireplace as training in the use of the trowel.

Archeological excavations took place from 1970 to 1974.

Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 22153

"Because of the lack of time and a limit to the area available for excavation (the site was still inhabited) work during the first season concentrated on locating the fort, and identifying key features to which 18th-century plans could be related.”
~ Casemates and Cannonballs: Archeological
Investigations at Fort Stanwix National Monument, 1975.

Open Transcript 

Transcript

No audio

Duration:

1 minute, 23 seconds

Various clips of the archeological excavations that took place in the 1970s to uncover remains of Fort Stanwix. Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 22244. (No sound)

Volunteers with the Fort Stanwix Garrison.

Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 22153

A Future

“May this Fort stand as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our Revolutionary soldiers who served here and as a tribute to the 20th Century Americans who banded together to restore and preserve this vital part of our national heritage.”
~ Thomas Kelppe, Secretary of the Interior,
Speech given on May 22, 1976.

On May 20, 1976, the reconstructed
fort opened to the public under much
pomp and circumstance.

Approximately 90 volunteers had been
preparing for the public since 1973 with
the formation of the Fort Stanwix Garrison.

Open Transcript 

Transcript

Fife and drum music with intermittent, inaudible commands yelled by a man

Duration:

57 seconds

Clip from "Made in America: Rome New York" that shows the opening ceremony of Fort Stanwix National Monument. Fort Stanwix National Monument Collection, FOST 22977. (Fife and drum music with intermittent, inaudible commands yelled by a man)

Even though this project is near to completion, near reality, it's still embryonic, as it will affect the life of this community...the good years are all in the future.

~ William Flinchbaugh, Executive Director Rome Urban Renewal
Made in America: Rome, NY

Annual Visitation to
Fort Stanwix Since Opening

1976 ~ 211,700
1977 ~ 102,000
1978 ~ 87,043
1979 ~ 68,288
1980 ~ 64,975
1981 ~ 60,696
1982 ~ 66,595
1983 ~ 63,154
1984 ~ 56,352
1985 ~ 67,100
1986 ~ 57,857
1987 ~ 45,338
1988 ~ 52,659
1989 ~ 51,271
1990 ~ 53,007
1991 ~ 57,172
1992 ~ 59,621
1993 ~ 54,785
1994 ~ 50,193
1995 ~ 56,139
1996 ~ 48,429
1997 ~ 82,552
1998 ~ 46,007
1999 ~ 51,228
2000 ~ 38,667
2001 ~ 53,065
2002 ~ 77,863
2003 ~ 56,646
2004 ~ 68,427
2005 ~ 38,237
2006 ~ 60,589
2007 ~ 59,643
2008 ~ 71,263
2009 ~ 93,170
2010 ~ 103,748
2011 ~ 102,874
2012 ~ 195,057
2013 ~ 129,089
2014 ~ 60,819
2015 ~ 86,678
2016 ~ 94,006
Total ~ 2,997,864

As the National Park Service moves through the next 100 years, Fort Stanwix National Monument remains dedicated to preserving the archeology of the fort, the objects from the people who lived here, and the reconstruction as a way to educate and inspire the next generation Americans with the local histories of resilience, freedom, and community here in Rome.

Left image
An image of James Street in Rome, NY circa 1971. Construction in this location led to the discover of human remains associated with the historic fort.
Credit: Courtesy of the Peter Leonard Collection

Right image
A modern view of James Street in Rome, NY looking north. To the right you can see the grounds of Fort Stanwix National Monument.
Credit: National Park Service