Location: 112 E. Park St. Rome, NY Map
Area: 16 acres (6.5 ha)
Constructed: 1758
Fort Stanwix, located in Rome, Oneida County, New York, is a reconstructed 18th-century colonial fortification, now a National Monument managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Built in 1758 during the French and Indian War and significantly expanded during the American Revolutionary War, it played a pivotal role in securing the Oneida Carrying Place, a critical portage connecting the Atlantic seaboard to the Great Lakes via the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. Known as the “fort that never surrendered,” Fort Stanwix is celebrated for its strategic importance, particularly during the 1777 Siege of Fort Stanwix, which thwarted a British campaign and bolstered American morale. Unlike the abandoned ghost towns of Bara-Hack, Dudleytown, Bannerman Castle, or the natural Bluestone National Scenic River, Fort Stanwix is a meticulously restored historical site, offering a window into colonial and Revolutionary War history through its reconstructed structures, interpretive programs, and archaeological significance.
Strategic Context and the Oneida Carrying Place:
Fort Stanwix was constructed at the Oneida Carrying Place, a vital
1–6-mile portage between the Mohawk River (flowing east to the Hudson
River) and Wood Creek (flowing west to Oneida Lake and the Great Lakes).
This portage, used for centuries by Indigenous peoples, particularly the
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, was a key trade and military
corridor. The Oneida Nation, one of the six Haudenosaunee nations,
controlled the area, and their alliance with the British and later
neutrality or support for the Americans shaped the fort’s history.
French and Indian War (1758–1763):
During the French and Indian
War (1754–1763), the British sought to counter French influence in the
Ohio Valley and secure the northern frontier. In 1758, General John
Stanwix ordered the construction of a fort at the Oneida Carrying Place
to protect British supply lines and assert control over the region.
Built under the direction of engineer Lieutenant Charles Clinton, the
fort was completed in 1762 at a cost of £60,000 (equivalent to millions
today). Named Fort Stanwix, it was a square, bastioned fortification
with earth and timber walls, designed to withstand small-scale attacks.
It served as a staging point for British campaigns, including the 1759
attack on Fort Niagara, and housed up to 800 soldiers.
In 1764,
the fort was briefly renamed Fort Schuyler by General Thomas Gage but
reverted to Fort Stanwix. After the war, it fell into disrepair as
British priorities shifted, and by 1768, it was largely abandoned
following the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, which negotiated land cessions
with the Haudenosaunee.
Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768):
The
fort was the site of a significant diplomatic event in November 1768,
when Sir William Johnson negotiated the Treaty of Fort Stanwix with the
Haudenosaunee. The treaty established a boundary line between colonial
and Indigenous lands, ceding vast territories south and east of the Ohio
River to British settlers. While intended to reduce frontier conflicts,
the treaty was controversial, as it violated earlier agreements and
fueled tensions with tribes like the Shawnee and Cherokee, contributing
to later conflicts such as Dunmore’s War (1774).
American
Revolutionary War (1776–1781):
During the Revolution, the fort’s
strategic importance resurfaced. In 1776, the Continental Army,
recognizing the need to secure the Mohawk Valley against British and
Loyalist incursions, began repairing the dilapidated fort under Colonel
Elias Dayton. Renamed Fort Schuyler by the Americans (though Fort
Stanwix remained the common name), it was rebuilt with stronger
defenses, including log and earth walls, bastions, and a surrounding
ditch. Colonel Peter Gansevoort assumed command in 1777, leading a
garrison of approximately 750 soldiers from the 3rd New York Regiment
and Massachusetts militia.
Siege of Fort Stanwix (August 2–22,
1777):
The fort’s defining moment came during the 1777 Siege of Fort
Stanwix, part of the British Saratoga Campaign led by General John
Burgoyne. A British force of about 1,700, including 800 regulars and
Hessian troops under Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger, 400 Loyalists,
and 500 Haudenosaunee and Canadian allies, besieged the fort to disrupt
American supply lines and support Burgoyne’s advance. The siege began on
August 2, with the British demanding surrender, which Gansevoort
defiantly refused, raising an early American flag—possibly the first
Stars and Stripes—crafted from soldiers’ clothing.
Key events
during the siege included:
Battle of Oriskany (August 6, 1777): A
relief column of 800 Tryon County militia and Oneida warriors, led by
General Nicholas Herkimer, was ambushed by British and Haudenosaunee
forces six miles from the fort. The bloody battle, one of the war’s
deadliest, resulted in heavy losses on both sides (American: ~450 killed
or wounded; British/allies: ~150). Herkimer’s mortal wounding and the
Oneida’s involvement marked a turning point in Haudenosaunee neutrality.
British Withdrawal: The siege faltered after American scouts, including
Lieutenant Colonel Marinus Willett, raided British camps, and rumors of
a larger American relief force under General Benedict Arnold (a ruse
involving a Loyalist captive, Hon Yost Schuyler) demoralized the
British. On August 22, St. Leger’s Haudenosaunee allies, frustrated by
losses and lack of plunder, withdrew, forcing the British to abandon the
siege.
The successful defense of Fort Stanwix disrupted the
British strategy, prevented a coordinated attack on the Mohawk Valley,
and contributed to Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga in October 1777, a
turning point in the war. The fort continued to serve as a base for
American operations, including negotiations with the Oneida and
Tuscarora, until it was abandoned in 1781 following a fire and flooding.
Post-War Decline:
After the Revolution, Fort Stanwix was not
rebuilt, and its site was overtaken by the growing settlement of Rome,
New York. By the 19th century, the fort’s earthworks were leveled for
urban development, leaving no visible traces. The 1768 Treaty of Fort
Stanwix was renegotiated in 1784, further reducing Haudenosaunee lands,
a legacy that remains contentious.
Archaeological Rediscovery and Reconstruction
(1960s–1976):
In the 1960s, local preservationists in Rome, spurred
by urban renewal plans, advocated for the fort’s reconstruction.
Archaeological excavations, led by the NPS and the Rome Historical
Society, uncovered artifacts and foundations, confirming the fort’s
location. In 1970, Congress authorized Fort Stanwix National Monument,
and reconstruction began in 1974 on the original site, using historical
plans, journals, and archaeological data. Completed in 1976 for the U.S.
Bicentennial, the fort was rebuilt as a full-scale replica, costing $3.5
million, with timber-framed walls, bastions, and interior buildings
designed to reflect its 1777 appearance.
Fort Stanwix National
Monument:
Established on August 21, 1935, and expanded with the 1976
reconstruction, Fort Stanwix National Monument encompasses 15.5 acres in
downtown Rome. It includes the fort, a visitor center (Willett Center,
opened in 2005), and interpretive grounds. The NPS manages the site,
offering free admission to the fort and programs, with a $7 fee for the
Willett Center’s exhibits and film.
Physical Features:
The
reconstructed Fort Stanwix is a square fortification with four
diamond-shaped bastions, surrounded by a dry moat and earthworks. Key
features include:
Exterior Defenses: Log and earth walls,
sharpened stakes (fraise), a drawbridge, and a sally port. The moat,
crossed by a wooden bridge, enhances defensibility.
Bastions: Named
North, East, South, and West, each mounts replica cannons and offers
defensive positions.
Interior Buildings: Reconstructed structures
include:
Headquarters/Commandant’s Quarters: Where Colonel Gansevoort
worked and lived.
Barracks: Housing for enlisted men, with bunks and
period furnishings.
Casemates: Fortified rooms for storage and
defense, including munitions.
Officers’ Quarters: For higher-ranking
soldiers.
Sutler’s Store: A trading post for goods.
Guardhouse and
Magazine: For security and ammunition storage.
Willett Center: A
modern visitor center with exhibits, a 15-minute film (“Fort Stanwix:
The Key to the Mohawk Valley”), and a bookstore. It honors Marinus
Willett, a hero of the 1777 siege.
Grounds: The surrounding park
includes interpretive signs, a replica flagpole with the 1777 Stars and
Stripes, and remnants of the Marinus Willett Memorial Ditch, a
19th-century canal.
Archaeological Significance:
Excavations
in the 1970s uncovered over 400,000 artifacts, including musket balls,
pottery, buttons, and tools, now housed in the NPS collections and
displayed in the Willett Center. These findings provide insights into
colonial military life, Haudenosaunee trade, and the fort’s
construction.
Military Role:
Fort Stanwix was a linchpin in
controlling the Mohawk Valley and the Oneida Carrying Place, shaping
British and American strategies:
French and Indian War: Secured
British supply lines and countered French expansion.
Revolutionary
War: Its defense in 1777 disrupted the British Saratoga Campaign,
boosted American morale, and strengthened alliances with the Oneida and
Tuscarora. The raising of an early Stars and Stripes symbolized American
resolve.
Cultural Importance:
Haudenosaunee Relations: The
fort’s history is intertwined with the Oneida Nation, whose support
during the Revolution was critical. The 1768 and 1784 treaties, while
controversial, highlight the fort’s role in colonial-Indigenous
diplomacy.
American Identity: The siege’s defiance and the
flag-raising resonate as symbols of patriotism, earning Fort Stanwix the
moniker “the fort that never surrendered.”
Preservation Legacy: The
1976 reconstruction, one of the first full-scale fort replicas in the
U.S., set a precedent for living history museums, blending archaeology,
education, and public engagement.
Living History Programs:
The
NPS offers immersive experiences, including:
Reenactments: Costumed
interpreters portray soldiers, officers, and civilians, demonstrating
musket drills, cannon firings, and daily tasks like cooking and
blacksmithing.
Guided Tours: Ranger-led tours explore the fort’s
history, architecture, and siege events.
Educational Programs: School
groups engage with Junior Ranger activities, while events like “Honor
America Days” and “Fort Stanwix Days” feature music, crafts, and
demonstrations.
Exhibits: The Willett Center’s displays include
artifacts, dioramas, and interactive maps, with tactile models for
accessibility.
NPS Management:
Fort Stanwix National Monument is
managed by the NPS, with a staff of rangers, historians, and volunteers.
The site operates year-round, with peak visitation in summer
(June–August). Hours are typically 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, with closures on
major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day). The fort is
free to enter, though the Willett Center charges $7 for adults (free for
children under 16 and passholders).
Visitor Experience:
Visitors enter via the Willett Center, where they can watch the
orientation film, explore exhibits, and join guided tours. The fort’s
compact size allows a 1–2-hour visit, with self-guided exploration of
the ramparts, barracks, and casemates. Reenactments and cannon firings
(seasonal) bring the 1777 siege to life. The surrounding grounds offer
picnic areas and views of Rome’s urban landscape, contrasting with the
fort’s colonial ambiance.
Accessibility:
The Willett Center
and fort entrance are wheelchair-accessible, with ramps and elevators.
However, the fort’s upper levels and uneven terrain may pose challenges.
Tactile exhibits and audio descriptions accommodate diverse needs.
Preservation Challenges:
Maintenance: The reconstructed fort
requires ongoing upkeep to preserve timber and earthworks, especially in
New York’s harsh winters.
Urban Context: Located in downtown Rome,
the fort contends with noise and development pressures, unlike the
remote settings of Bara-Hack, Dudleytown, or Bluestone.
Balancing
Authenticity and Education: The NPS strives to maintain historical
accuracy while making the site engaging for modern audiences.
Visitor Experience:
Fort Stanwix National Monument
offers an immersive journey into 18th-century military life. Visitors
begin at the Willett Center, where exhibits and a film provide context,
then explore the fort’s ramparts, barracks, and casemates. Reenactments,
including musket and cannon demonstrations, bring history to life, while
ranger-led tours and Junior Ranger programs engage all ages. Seasonal
events like “Siege Days” (August) and “Colonial Christmas” add festive
appeal. The fort’s urban setting in Rome allows easy access, with nearby
dining and attractions like the Erie Canal Village.
Cultural and
Educational Value:
The monument educates visitors about the French
and Indian War, the Revolution, and Haudenosaunee contributions,
emphasizing the Oneida Nation’s role. Its archaeological collections and
living history programs make it a model for historical interpretation,
fostering public understanding of colonial and Indigenous interactions.
Challenges:
Urban Encroachment: The fort’s downtown location
contrasts with the remote settings of Bara-Hack, Dudleytown, and
Bluestone, requiring careful integration with Rome’s modern landscape.
Funding and Maintenance: NPS budget constraints challenge the upkeep of
wooden structures and interpretive programs.
Balancing Perspectives:
The NPS strives to present balanced narratives, acknowledging
Haudenosaunee perspectives on the controversial 1768 and 1784 treaties.