1812 Battle Re-Enactments at Old Fort Erie (FREE)
Witness the fierce fighting of 1814 which turned Old Fort Erie into Canada’s bloodiest battlefield. Ongoing events throughout the weekend at Canada’s largest 1812 reenactment. Watch the Fort come alive during special lantern tours after the Saturday evening battle. Camps and battles free to the public. 350 Lakeshore Rd. Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada (905) 871-0540. Old Fort Erie is located in the town of Fort Erie approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles), or a scenic 20-minute drive, south of Niagara Falls and is close to the Peace Bridge from Buffalo, New York. The grounds and the main floor rooms of the buildings are wheelchair accessible.
The Greater Fort Erie area has a rich and colorful history that can be traced back over 12,500 years.
Fort Erie, the local site of the War of 1812, is one of the most significant historic landmarks in the area. Fort Erie saw considerable action in the War of 1812 including the capture of two American ships, the ‘Ohio’ and the ‘Somers’. Fort Erie plays an integral role in presenting Canada’s history to visitors from around the world in its capacity as a museum, living history site and memorial park. Phone 905-871-0540 for more information.
The “Old Fort” offers a taste of life during the War of 1812. Battle reenactments take place during the summer drawing thousands of visitors and participants to Old Fort Erie and the Ridgeway Battlefield Site.
Black history is an important part of the Town’s history. The Niagara Frontier was a main route used by fugitive slaves fleeing to Canada. Fort Erie’s border location across from Buffalo made the Town an important station on the Underground Railroad. A few prominent members of the black community settled in this region including Josiah Henson, immortalized in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. W.E.B DuBois initiated the Niagara Movement here laying the foundation for the NAACP. There were three main areas settled by black immigrants: Little Africa, Bertie Hill and Snake Hill. |