Old Fort Niagara hosts War of 1812 weekend

Press Release

Old Fort Niagara remembers the War of 1812 and its impact on the Niagara Region during a special living history event, scheduled for Labor Day weekend. At that time, 75 reenactors portraying both British and American soldiers, as well as early 19th century civilians, will gather at the site to present tactical demonstrations, uniform programs, immersive recruiting demonstrations for families, hot shot demonstrations and showings of ladies’ regency fashions.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, nationally known author and historian Richard V. Barbuto, Ph.D., will present a lecture on the Battle of Queenston Heights in the Visitor Center theater.

Barbuto was born and raised on the shores of Lake Erie in Dunkirk. Graduating from West Point in 1971, he served as an armor officer for 23 years in Germany, Korea, Canada, and other U.S. posts. He earned a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Kansas and was the deputy director of the Department of Military History at the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for 12 years. Barbuto has written several books and numerous articles on the War of 1812 and is a frequent speaker at history conferences and public venues.

Ongoing activities throughout the day include early 19th century soldier life, blacksmithing, hornsmithing and leatherwork, cooking and foodways, and children’s games.

When the war was declared in June 1812, Fort Niagara was occupied by a garrison of U.S. soldiers. The fort endured two bombardments in the fall of 1812 and supported the American capture of British-held Fort George in May of 1813. In December of 1813, in revenge for the burning of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake), the British crossed the Niagara River and, in a daring pre-dawn assault, captured the fort. This opened the way for British troops to burn American settlements along the Niagara from Youngstown to Buffalo.

At the end of the war, Fort Niagara was returned to the U.S. by treaty.

The War of 1812 weekend seeks to recreate the human drama of events that shaped the early history of the Niagara Frontier. Hours for the event are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31.