Ticonderoga will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution as the conflict that shaped our nation. To serve our mission of preservation and education, Ticonderoga will explore the individuals, alliances, triumphs, and challenges of the long war to achieve American independence and their lasting impact on the United States and the world.
The American Revolution reshaped the world, creating new political borders across North America and initiating an age of revolution on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In 2026, the United States will celebrate 250 years of existence as a sovereign nation dedicated to the idea that “that all men are created equal” and are entitled to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
But central to this ideal, was a long war of independence to achieve those rights. Even before nationhood was a declared goal of the conflict, American colonists took up arms and open hostilities exploded across the continent. The ensuing war lasted eight years, drawing in imperial powers from across the Atlantic, Native American nations from across the continent, and expanded to the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The war was a deeply personal experience. The conflict forced neighbors to choose sides, tore communities apart through a vicious civil war, and forever shaped the future of North America. The Revolutionary War was one of the longest in American history and tested the morale, allegiance, and commitment of people from all walks of life.
Fort Ticonderoga will use its world-class collections, landscape, and history to examine the reality of the Revolutionary War during America’s 250th anniversary. Fort Ticonderoga’s programming will follow the Revolution in real-time. Between 2024 and 2027, Fort Ticonderoga’s unique and innovative interpretive program will portray the soldiers and civilians stationed here 250 years ago. Following the path from peace to war, and its evolution from a struggle for rights within an empire to an armed independence movement, we will show that independence was achieved by the choices and actions of individual men and women across America.
The museum will increase access to and awareness of Fort Ticonderoga’s Revolutionary-era history through exhibitions, publications, and the expansion of our Center for Digital History, as well as strengthen our collections and historical resources. We will expand educational impact by engaging with students of all levels in digital and in-person programs and seminars, and bridge boundaries across the United States and beyond by fostering research and engagement to better refine our understanding of the long struggle for independence.