Special Gift Opportunities
The following are programs that our interpretive and curatorial teams have
developed for our 2012 season.
A Military Bearing in Sound and Dress
$17,000 will provide new uniforms for all members of the Corps as well as drums and other needed accoutrements.
The Fort Ticonderoga Fife and Drum corps will have an updated authentic look for 2012. The Corps is embarking on an exciting new chapter and reaching for new heights as it joins the Interpretive Department’s drive to faithfully recreate Fort Ticonderoga’s 18th-century military history. We propose to replace their current uniforms with completely new, hand-finished uniforms, utilizing the latest research and best available materials. They will represent the First New York Regiment who were at Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. New drums will be acquired, based on original examples in the museum’s collection. The Corps will also be learning to play American military tunes in a period appropriate manner.
The Soles of the Soldier
$20,000 will provide the tools and materials to make shoes for all members of the interpretive staff and the Fife & Drum Corps.
The Department of Interpretation at Fort Ticonderoga is quickly becoming the premier interpretive program in North America. It has set high standards of authenticity for clothing and material it uses on a daily basis. Extensive research in the Fort’s archives and collections enables the development of this historically accurate and site specific approach which ultimately offers visitors to Fort Ticonderoga a premier and unparalleled experience. This high standard extends to the shoes that are worn in front of our visitors. Unfortunately, commercially produced 18th-century style shoes are not very authentic, lack in quality, and are increasingly expensive. We propose to acquire the materials necessary to have our interpretive staff make their own shoes, using the process as an interpretive program as part of the Fort’s historic trades division.
Tailor Made: Soldier’s Clothing
$25,000 will provide the tools and materials for new uniforms for all members of the interpretive staff.
Fort Ticonderoga has spent the past year assessing all of its programs and introducing new program to better meet the needs of our visitors. New interpretive programs have been developed that involve our visitors in all aspects of life on the 18th-century frontier and educate them about this important period in our country’s early history. For our 2012 season, we propose to acquire the tools and materials necessary to allow our interpretive staff to make their own garments, allowing us to maintain high standards, interpret the
mechanical art of tailoring for our visitors, and save money by producing the garments in-house. The addition of this program will allow us to better interpret the lives and material culture of the 18th-century soldiers who played a role here in new and dynamic ways and bring to life their stories at one of America’s most significant historic sites.
Cart Project
$10,650 will purchase a hand-made cart and harness for interpretive and special event use.
Fort Ticonderoga is committed to providing the interpretive staff with the most historically accurate uniforms and other materials which will allow them to better interpret the lives and material culture of the 18th-centruy soldiers who played a role here in new and dynamic ways and bring to life their stories at one of America’s most significant historic sites. In 2012 we are introducing a number of new initiatives including acquiring a period correct cart that will help in interpreting the challenges of supplying an army at this remote post. This program is part of a larger 18th century equine interpretive initiative at Fort Ticonderoga. We plan to acquire a hand-made cart and harness from Colonial Williamsburg’s Wheelwright Shop.
Officer’s Room Reinterpretation
$6,500 will provide the furniture and other materials to outfit the new Officer’s Room interpretive space.
In 2012 one of our exhibit spaces will be refurbished to house junior officer’s quarters, providing a new interpretive space for programming. This officer’s barracks space will be an ideal setting for many of the public programs which are in development. Discussions of supplying the Northern Continental Army, or the overall strategy and history of the Canadian campaign in 1775 are best addressed from the perspective of officers. During special events, a furnished room where the staff can interpret command as they actually command an event is an outstanding interpretive opportunity. The furniture to be acquired is not only important for our daily interpretation, but also provides key infrastructure for our events.
Family Programs in the King’s Garden
$2,000 will provide the materials and staffing to allow100 youth over the summer to attend bi-weekly garden programs at no cost.
The King’s Garden celebrates preservation, stewardship, and agriculture at Fort Ticonderoga. It includes the 1920s Colonial Revival garden as well as a garrison garden, children’s garden and Native American three sisters’ garden. In the summer of 2012, bi-weekly programs will be offered to youth to introduce them to the gardens and landscape. The morning will include a garden related story and a project in the gardens. Projects will include the chance to help plant vegetables or flowers, harvest vegetables, or participate in a bug hunt as part of the “Lost Ladybug” initiative.
