Gardens have been part of Ticonderoga’s history for centuries. French, British and American armies found nourishment in the vegetables grown in the fertile gardens located below the fort walls along the shores of Lake Champlain. In the 19th and 20th century, the lush and historic landscape transformed into a unique private country American estate. Museum founders celebrated Ticonderoga’s defining Colonial and Revolutionary history while adding new gardens and orchards to the landscape. Today visitors to the 6-acre King’s Garden explore centuries of garden history, savor the fragrant heritage flowers, and discover how Fort Ticonderoga cultivates its gardens today to feature its incredible history and create curated culinary experiences and sustainable agricultural practices.
-
Breaking Ground: A Guided Tour of the Historic Gardens
Tuesday-Sunday 11:45am; 2:45pm
From military garrison gardens to a secluded colonial revival commemorative spectacle of color and light, explore one of the oldest cultivated landscapes in America. Discover the layers of horticultural history of the Ticonderoga peninsula.
-
Centuries of Seeds and Stories
Ongoing
Enjoy beautiful flowers and the layers of history found in the King’s Garden through a self-guided tour through this historic botanical garden. Leisurely stroll brick paths in the 20th-century walled garden, a tribute to the soldiers who fought here and a testament to America’s first historic preservation effort.
-
Meet Our Animals
Ongoing
See Red Devon oxen in action, hauling supplies for the British garrison at Ticonderoga. Watch for sheep grazing uneven terrain as part of our stewardship of this historic landscape today. Discover how cattle, horses, and sheep were a common part of the peacetime landscape surrounding Fort Ticonderoga.
-
Apple Picking
August-October
Join us this fall to pick apples by the bag from the Pell family orchard planted in 1911. Your pruning, picking, and apple munching will help keep this orchard thriving for another century.
Ask a friendly garden staff member to help point out the best, ripest apples! Pick-your-own 1-bushel bags are available for purchase.