Fort Ticonderoga invites you to experience the sights and sounds of the American Army at Ticonderoga during the Sound of 1776 Living History Event on Saturday, August 1.
From thrilling demonstrations to immersive living history vignettes and musical performances, discover how the beats of drums and the sounds of fifes translated orders to nearly 10,000 soldiers who fought for liberty at Ticonderoga.
In addition to a full line-up of activities, listen to a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on nearly the same day it was read to the troops at Ticonderoga in 1776. Explore the struggle to put these immortal words of independence into action on the front lines of the defense of this new nation.
“Visitors will step into the iconic fort during this special event and witness our nation’s fight for freedom in the year 1776,” said Beth L. Hill, President and CEO. “March along with our fifes and drums and discover the importance of music in coordinating the daily orders for the American troops. Enjoy patriotic concerts and savor the fresh air and beauty of one of the world’s most historic places.”
This year, until otherwise announced, Fort Ticonderoga will be open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:30am-5pm, with general admission capacity limited to 400 visitors per day. Advance online ticketing is encouraged by visiting fortticonderoga.org or tickets can be purchased the day of with a credit card.
Fort Ticonderoga’s 2020 opening was delayed due to Covid-19 and New York on Pause. Numerous measures are in place to ensure staff and visitor safety and reflect guidance from appropriate government agencies and health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including required physical distancing, new signage to manage visitor flow and expectations, and required face coverings when physical distancing is not possible.
One destination with many attractions:
Hailed as the premier living history program in North America, Fort Ticonderoga’s museum staff brings history to life every day! Ticonderoga’s epic history and signature stories are highlighted through innovative storytelling on a grand scale, breathtaking gardens layered with history, historic trades, soldiers’ life programs, thrilling weapons demonstrations, and endless outdoor activities. Visit through the reconstructed fort, take a stroll on the Carillon Battlefield hiking trail, and witness the unforgettable view from the top of Mount Defiance with a sweeping vista of Lake Champlain and Vermont’s Green Mountains.
About the Ticonderoga Fifes and Drums:
Fort Ticonderoga formed its first Fife and Drum Corps 1926, on the eve of the 150th-anniversary celebration of American Independence. The Corps performed at Fort Ticonderoga each summer until the beginning of World War II. When the World’s Fair came to New York City in 1939, the Fife and Drum Corps was a featured performance on May 10th, Fort Ticonderoga Day, celebrating the 164th anniversary of the capture of the Fort by Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys.
In 1973, in preparation for the bicentennial, Fort Ticonderoga revived the Fife and Drum Corps to perform daily during the museum campus’ summer season. The Fifes and Drums has performed every year since, and has been a featured performance at many major public events, including the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games, the Christening of the US Navy Guided Missile Cruiser USS Ticonderoga CG-47, and several Evacuation Day parades in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Ticonderoga Fifes and Drums will continue performing daily concerts through August 21.
About Fort Ticonderoga:
Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga preserves North America’s largest 18th-century artillery collection, 2,000-acres of historic landscape on Lake Champlain, and Carillon Battlefield, and the largest series of untouched Revolutionary War era earthworks surviving in America. As a multi-day destination and the premier place to learn more about our nation’s earliest years and America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 75,000 visitors each year with an economic impact of more than $12 million annually and offers programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits throughout the year, and is open for daily visitation May through October. Fort Ticonderoga is supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.