For just about 300 years, Old Fort Niagara has withstood both the ravages of war and the test of time.

"The French founded the fort in 1726," said Bob Emerson, the fort’s executive director.

  • Old Fort Niagara was built by the French in the 1720s 
  • Now, it serves as a timecapsle and a place to learn about America before it came to be 
  • Fort Niagara Lighthouse reopens to the public July 13

It changed hands five times, “twice in battle and three times in treaty," Emerson said.

It was in the possession of the British during the Revolutionary War.

"This was a back door into the colonies and the states of New York and Pennsylvania," Emerson said. "A lot of raids were launched out of here."

The goal was to keep supplies out of the hands of Washington's army. Fast forward to present day and Old Fort Niagara is now in the hands of the state. Emerson is tasked with keeping it standing.

More importantly, he’s charged with teaching people from all over the world its history.

"We have inventories of the castle room by room, so we know what kinds of things were in the rooms in the 1730s and 1740s," Emerson said. "They are furnished much as they would have been."

From muskets, to uniforms, to the beds where 20 soldiers slept, entering into the fort is a step back in time.

The castle itself is pretty much intact. One part that's missing is the lighthouse.  Its replacement, built in 1871, is just down the driveway.

"It was built mainly because the castle at that point was married officer housing," said Toby Jewett, an Old Fort Niagara volunteer. "The officers were complaining about the smell of oil and the light keeper trudging up and down the stairs."

The Fort Niagara Lighthouse guided ships into the Niagara River.

"Before 1823, when the Erie Canal was built, this was the main way to get people and goods into the upper Great Lakes," Jewett said.

It was decommissioned in the 1990s.

"The trees started growing too high and it was blocking the view," Jewett said.

It’s a view which visitors can now see for themselves, as long as they’re more than 4 feet tall. Just climb up the 72 steps up to the top, getting a bird's eye view of American history and Western New York's role in it all.

"It's part of the whole story of Fort Niagara," Jewett said. "The whole area of the Niagara River has been an important site for a period of time."

Starting July 13, visitors can come up and take in the gorgeous views in person between noon and 3 p.m. In the meantime, check out the view at any time via the webcam.