Fort Ticonderoga, originally built by the French as Fort Carillon between 1755–1758, stands as a monumental Vauban-style star fort overlooking Lake Champlain in upstate New York. Strategically positioned at the junction of two waterways—the name derives from the Iroquois word meaning this geographic feature—the fort witnessed pivotal moments in American history. On May 10, 1775, it became the site of the first American offensive victory of the Revolutionary War, when Colonial forces captured crucial artillery and secured the northern passage to Canada. Spanning 2,000 acres of historic landscape nestled between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Fort Ticonderoga welcomes over 70,000 visitors annually and operates as a major cultural destination and center for learning since 1909.
