The land of freedom and forts

Every July Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America’s first step toward becoming an independent nation. In the Revolutionary War that followed, forts played an integral role in America’s subsequent victory, and have been featured in many historic battles. Today, most of them serve as popular tourist attractions.

1. Old Fort Niagara: The fort, located on the Niagara River in Youngstown, New York, has been controlled by the French, British, and Americans over its 294-year long history. Now, visitors can explore the grounds through a variety of demonstrations and tours, including reenactments.

2. Fort Ticonderoga: Because of its important location at the southern end of Lake Champlain, control of the fort switched between the French and the British several times. It’s most famous for the early morning raid on May 10, 1775, led by American Revolutionary Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. The Americans caught the soldiers sleeping, resulting in the fort’s commander surrendering—in his nightshirt—without a single shot being fired.

3. Fort McHenry: During the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 when American troops stopped a British invasion, Francis Scott Key penned the famous words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” During the Civil War, the Maryland fort also served as a military prison.

4. Fort Sumter: It was here in South Carolina that the problems between the North and South erupted into what became the Civil War. The Confederates were successful in taking the fort on April 12, 1862, but eventually the Union forces took it back four years later. The people of Charleston reportedly watched the 34-hour battle from their rooftops.

5. The Alamo: “Remember the Alamo” is one of the most historic battle cries of all time. In 1835, groups of Texan volunteers—including Davy Crockett—occupied the Alamo, a former mission. It took 13 days for Santa Anna’s Mexican army, which numbered in the thousands, to take the Alamo from its 200 defenders. The battle became a symbol of the struggle for Texas’ independence from Mexico.

6. Fort Robinson: Located in western Nebraska, Fort Robinson played a notable role during much of its American history. It was here that Crazy Horse was imprisoned and killed. During World War II, war dogs for the K-9 Corps were trained and German POWs were housed there. Today, it serves as a state park, offering everything from accommodations to Broadway shows.

7. Fort Sutter: This California fort was built by Swiss immigrant John Sutter in 1839 to protect his flourishing agricultural empire, The Kingdom of New Helvetia. He had a land grant at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers from the Mexican government. All was going well for him until gold was discovered, leading to the collapse of his empire.

8. Alcatraz: Alcatraz is best known for its use as a prison. However, the fort was originally built by the U.S. Army in 1859 because they feared the gold rush and California’s new statehood made the San Francisco Bay vulnerable to enemy attack. It was the largest American fort west of the Mississippi during the American Civil War.

9. Presidio, San Francisco: This fort is where the “City by the Bay” started. The site was first fortified in 1776 by New Spain, then passed to the United States in 1848. Today, the 1,500-acre park serves as an outdoor recreation area featuring a museum, archeology digs, bike tours and even musical presentations.

10. Fort Vancouver: This Washington state fort, unlike most forts, was established with trade in mind, not defense. It was built in 1824 by the Hudson’s Bay Company, but proved to be unprofitable. In 1846, the U.S. established an army barracks there that remained active until 2011. Visitors can now visit the fort, its restored buildings and watch reenactments.