Fort William Henry Museum Review

Are you in Lake George and looking for something to do beyond the typical tourist stuff?  You might consider visiting the Fort William Henry Museum.  It is a great place to understand the historical significance of the region during the French and Indian War during the colonial times.

Fort William Henry was host to a fierce battle between the British and the French.  The Fort was built by the British and protected the southern end of Lake George, which was also the beginning of a portage to the Hudson River.  Whoever controlled the area controlled the flow of people and goods in a north-south corridor between New York City and Canada. 

The British established Fort William Henry to protect that route and the French attacked in 1757 to win control over the route.  While the fort fell in the battle, eventually the British were victorious, preventing the French from cutting the American colonies in half.

The original Fort was destroyed in its final battle by the French in 1757.  The French overtook the fort and drove the British to the south.  After its capture, the Fort, it was burned and destroyed by the French.

What you visit today is a reconstruction based on the descriptions, plans and archeological evidence at the site.  The fort is built roughly in the same area as the original fort and where it was possible, original portions of the fort were incorporated into the reconstruction when they were found through archeological excavations.  In addition to the Fort itself, there are a number of different exhibits throughout the Fort describing life and the battle the Fort faced.

In order to get inside Fort and make your way through the exhibits, you must purchase an admission to the tour.  This tour consists of a short film, a short guided tour of the Fort that explains the weapons and manners of warfare from the time period of the fort and then a chance to wander at your own pace through the Fort and its exhibits.  I did think the fee was a bit high at $14.95 per person, but if you want to see the fort, it's the only way to get in.  There really isn't much to see if you don't pay.  The entrance to the Fort before you get to the ticket counter offers a few small exhibits on the Fort and the region's history, but beyond that and a gift shop, there really isn't anything of substance.

Getting There

The Fort William Henry Museum is located right off of Route 9 in Lake George.  It's just south of the beginning of the downtown Lake George area and its next to the Fort William Henry Resort.  There's plenty of free parking.  The Fort is open for tours daily from May through October from 9am to 6pm.  The tours begin on the hour through 5pm.

My Take

There's a lot of touristy things to do in Lake George, but if you are interested more in a historical experience, I think it's worth spending a few hours at the Fort William Henry Museum.  It showcases an important battle and war in our history and it's a window into the past of the region.  It might be a little pricey, but I think in the end, it's worth the time and the money to see it.