Old Fort Niagara — Attraction in Town of Porter

As a Knight of Columbus I took part in a once a year mass allowed in a state park and a national park to commemorate the work of a Jesuit priest in the 1600s to help the forces during a pandemic at the fort. That pandemic was not covid as we are going through but scurvy and it was found that the vitamin C deficiency was a problem to cause it. The Jesuit priest erected a large cross at the site. That cross was reconstructed and installed in 1926 and Calvin Coolidge president of the United States signed into law the fact that a memorial mass could be said once a year at the site. Is my knowledge that this may be the only place in the country within a state park or a national park that a mass is allowed to be said. This year's Mass commemorated the 95th anniversary of the first mass. It was interesting to be standing in the back of the congregation looking over the altar past the priest past the cross and seen Toronto in the distance across the lake. What a wonderful way to...

Had a great day slowly wandering around the grounds and exploring all the buildings in Old Fort Niagara. Learned a lot about the history of this 300 year old fort and why it was so vital. Being located at the mouth of the Niagara River, it controlled access to the Great Lakes and the route West to the heart of the American continent. The French held the first post here beginning in 1679 and built the ‘French Castle’ in 1726, the original lone building of the fort. The British took control of it in 1759, after a 19 day siege and held the post throughout the American Revolution till 1796, when they were forced by treaty to yield it to the US. The British recaptured it yet again in 1813 and it was ceded back to the US once again in 1815, at the end of the War of 1812. It is a bit pricey at $17 a person, but we would definitely recommend seeing this place, but try to go on a cooler day, as it’s a...

A mesmerizing glimpse into the past. Papa Always and I enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon at this beautifully maintained and expertly operated living-history museum. Visit and you'll learn about the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. You'll marvel at hundreds of relics: tarnished cannons, a birchwood canoe, animal pelts, candle sticks, an original 15-star flag once captured by the Redcoats, etc. A costumed interpreter on-site delivered an informative (and riotous) monologue about the life of an 18th-century British soldier. He capped this performance off with a deafening musket demonstration--quite a thrill! Best of all, there are very few barriers in the buildings themselves. Guests are permitted to explore at their own discretion, up-and-down stairs and throughout the many corridors. History-buffs of any age would find this experience...