July 3, 2026 - July 5, 2026
Fort Ticonderoga will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Independence Day with a three-day reenactment event on July 3-5, recreating the Northern Continental Army’s preparations to defend its new nation, as the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
While delegates of the Continental Congress were putting pen to paper, declaring independence from British rule, nearly 350 miles north the Northern Continental Army continued to wage battle against British forces. After becoming overwhelmed in battle, the Continentals retreated to Fort Ticonderoga and constructed their defensive position, reinforced with heavy cannon delivered by boat on Lake Champlain. Simultaneously, the army battled an outbreak of smallpox and cared for the wounded at the Northern Continental Army’s general hospital.
The “Return of an Army” celebration and reenactment are part of REAL TIME REVOLUTION®, a multi-year initiative coinciding with our nation’s 250th year anniversary to bring to life the people and events that defined the fight for independence. Continuing through 2026 and 2027, the immersive experience brings the critical years of 1775-1777 to life through daily living history programs and signature events, offering visitors an unparalleled moment-by-moment experience of the historic events surrounding the American Revolution.
Weekend highlights include:
- Friday, July 3 – 2 p.m.: The Final Row Up Lake Champlain – Watch the arrival of the first wave of Northern Continental Army soldiers, landing their wooden transport boats called bateaux at Ticonderoga and marching to their new encampment.
- Saturday, July 4 – 11 a.m.: “The Distressing Situation with the Sick” – Witness the arrival of the Northern Continental Army’s General Hospital in the midst of an epidemic that threatened to destroy the army.
- Saturday, July 4 – 2 p.m.: A Grand Review – See the American forces that reached Ticonderoga assemble for a review by the Continental Army’s generals. Hear the roar of gunpowder as these soldiers fire together en masse.
- Sunday July 5 – 11 a.m.: The Guns to Defend Ticonderoga – View boats laden with cannon reaching the shores of Ticonderoga, and American soldiers hoisting them ashore and delivering them to Fort Ticonderoga. Witness the first preparations to defend against British invasion.
- Sunday, July 5 – 2 p.m.: The First Bastion of Hope – Feel the rumble as cannon fire from the walls of Fort Ticonderoga. See soldiers arm, “the Old French Fort,” as the work of fortifying the entire Ticonderoga camp begins.
- All Three Days (July 3-5) – 12:30 p.m.: Fifes & Drums Concert – Hear the beats that brought an army together, as the Fifes & Drums of Fort Ticonderoga celebrate Independence Day. Discover how their songs relayed orders to march, maneuver and fire in defense of the new nation.
As part of the multi-year REAL TIME REVOLUTION® initiative (2024-2027), “Return of an Army” is meticulously designed using primary source records to reflect identical conditions to 1776. This July, REAL TIME REVOLUTION® will allow visitors to:
- Witness the Arrival: Watch a flotilla of bateaux land at the base of the fort as exhausted Continental troops establish a desperate defensive line.
- Declare Your Independence: Stand on the very ground where, weeks after the retreat, the Declaration of Independence was first read to the troops, transforming a struggling army into a new nation’s defenders.
- Explore the “Must-See” 250th Destination: From the high-stakes military demonstrations to narrated boat tours on Lake Champlain, Fort Ticonderoga offers the most comprehensive 1776 experience in the nation.
Return of an Army programming is included with your General Admission ticket! Tickets are valid for two consecutive days.
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