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Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's Explorations on the lake
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Crown Point State Historic Site.  Contact the site for additional information.

To the casual visitor the small town of Crown Point, New York, may seem to be just another pleasant hamlet. As one passes through this area, it is easy to dismiss the signs pointing east toward the lake to the Crown Point State Historic Site. For the peacefulness and quiet beauty of this area, belie the fact that at one time Crown Point was one of the most important places in Northern New England.

Literally carved out of the wilderness, Crown Point was a virtual hub of activity. Standing on the lakeshore at a place where the waters of the lake came close together-this place was the center of civilization for the white man in the area. Accessible only by water, the place was fortified first by the French in 1734. They referred to this place (both sides of the lake) as Pointe à la Chevelure. This impressive fort— Fort St. Frédéric, was by 1742, the strongest work held by the French with the exception of Quebec. Until 1759, Fort St. Frédéric was the seat of French power on the lake. To learn more about Fort St. Frédéric,  click here.

After the French left the Crown Point in that year, destroying their fortifications behind them, the area became the center of British activity on Lake Champlain. General Jeffrey Amherst built the fortress shown on these pages- a very expensive undertaking for the Crown. This impressive bastion- though never completely finished- was to be 3 to 4 times larger than the French fort, and would eventually become possibly the largest British fortress in colonial America. The entire fortification complex, including redoubts, blockhouses and redans, covered over 3.5 square miles. This place- midway between Albany and Montreal, became the center of communication between New York and Canada. For an in-depth history of Crown Point, click here.

Commemorative plaque
dedicated in 1912.

Plan of the fort and fortress at Crown Point with their environs. With the disposition of the English Army under the command of Genl. Amherst encamp'd there 1759.

REPOSITORY
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA

This map, digitized by the Library of Congress, is available HERE.



Photo credit: Library of Congress
The American Revolution and Its Era- Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750-1789