Old Fort Niagara
An 18th-century fort where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario. The 'French Castle' from 1726 is one of the oldest buildings in the Great Lakes region.
The fort is located in Youngstown, about 45 kilometers north of Buffalo, guarding the mouth of the Niagara River. It was controlled in turn by France, Britain and the United States, and it witnessed the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The core building, the 'French Castle,' was built in 1726 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Great Lakes region. The fort also preserves its walls, bastions, powder magazines and barracks. In summer, costumed interpreters demonstrate musket fire and cannon salutes every day. From the walls you can see Lake Ontario and Canada across the water. Tickets are required, and it can be combined with a same-day visit to Niagara Falls on the American side.
Opening hours
Daily, approx. 09:00–17:00, extended in summer
Nearby sights
- Buffalo History Museum
- Burchfield Penney Art Center
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum
- Lockport Locks & Erie Canal
- Buffalo Zoo
- Delaware Park
- Forest Lawn Cemetery
- Darwin D. Martin House