War of 1812 Grand Encampment
Among War of 1812 reenactments, one event is selected each year to be designated the “Grand Tactical” — the one event that every War of 1812 reenactor will strive to attend.
As such the War of 1812 Grand Tactical at Old Fort Niagara on July 28-29 is destined to be the largest War of 1812 military reenactment of 2018 — US and British land forces; naval vessels, personnel and artillery; Native allies — from all over the US, Canada and beyond.
The event will feature a full and varied schedule of activities from 9:30 to 5:00 each day, including military and camp life, soldier and sailor skill demos, weapon and uniform demos, daily opposed sides tacticals, a select group of historical vendors selling their wares, Regency country dancing, and a guest speaker Saturday afternoon.
Admission: Adults $13.00, Children 6-12 $9.00, under 6 free.
Please note that visitors should arrive an hour before battles to allow time to get through admissions and to the viewing areas.
Saturday, July 28
9:00 a.m. Fort opens
9:30 a.m. MORNING FORMATIONS — British and American soldiers assemble in their camps wearing period military clothing and presenting their colors (flags)
9:45 a.m. BATTALION DRILL — Demonstrations of manual exercises by soldiers
11:00 a.m. FIRST ACTION BY COMBINED NAVAL AND LAND FORCES — The Americans defend their territory from a British naval attack on Lake Ontario
12:00 p.m. CONCERT OF MILITARY MUSIC — Old Fort Niagara’s field musicians perform on fifes and drums
1:00 p.m. UNIFORMS OF THE WAR OF 1812 — Learn about the different military uniforms worn by soldiers and sailors
2:00 p.m. REGENCY COUNTRY DANCING (public participation, no prior experience needed) — Instruction provided for learning period-style country dances
2:00 p.m. LECTURE PRESENTATION — “December 1813: The Fall of Fort Niagara and the Burning of Buffalo.” Presented by Dr. Richard Barbuto, author of the books, Long Range Guns, Close Quarters Combat: The U.S. Artillery Regiment in the War of 1812 (2010), and U.S. Army Staff Ride Handbook for the War of 1812 Niagara Campaigns, 1812-1814 (2016).
3:00 p.m. ARTILLERY DEMO — Cannon-firing demonstration
4:00 p.m. BRITISH ASSAULT ON THE FORT, PART 1 — The British attack the American-held fort
5:00 p.m. RECRUITING PARTY (Kids’ Program) — Kids are invited to choose sides and perform a mock battle using wooden muskets
6:00 p.m. CONCERT OF MILITARY MUSIC — Old Fort Niagara’s field musicians perform on fifes and drums
6:30 p.m. Last public entry (fort closes at 7 p.m.)
Sunday, July 29, 2018
9:00 a.m. Fort opens
9:30 a.m. MORNING FORMATIONS — British and American soldiers assemble in their camps wearing period military clothing and presenting their colors (flags)
9:45 a.m. BATTALION DRILL — Demonstrations of manual exercises by soldiers
10:00 a.m. REGENCY COUNTRY DANCING (public participation, no prior experience needed) — Instruction provided for learning period-style country dances
11:00 a.m. BRITISH NAVAL THREAT REPULSED BY MASSED U.S. ARTILLERY — American forces bombard approaching British boats with cannon fire
11:45 a.m. UNIFORMS OF THE WAR OF 1812 — Learn about the different military uniforms worn by soldiers and sailors
12:30 p.m. SOLDIERS’ DRILL COMPETITION — Soldiers will show off their skills
1:00 p.m. CONCERT OF MILITARY MUSIC — Old Fort Niagara’s field musicians perform on fifes and drums
2:00 p.m. BRITISH ASSAULT ON THE FORT, PART 2 — The British attack the American-held fort. Who will prevail?
3:15 p.m. KIDS’ GAMES (Kids’ Program) — Kids are invited to learn period games that occupied soldiers in the 19th century
4:00 p.m. MUSKET DEMO — A fort soldier will share the history of the musket and demonstrate how it was fired
5:00 p.m. MUSKET DEMO — A fort soldier will share the history of the musket and demonstrate how it was fired
6:00 p.m. MUSKET DEMO — A fort soldier will share the history of the musket and demonstrate how it was fired
6:30 p.m. Last public entry (fort closes at 7 p.m.)
Ongoing Activities, both days
Surgical Display — Castle, 1st floor — 10:30 to 4:00 daily
Soldiers’/Sailors’ Life — U.S., British and Naval Camps
The fort’s Bachelor Officers’ Quarters and its New Fort Niagara displays (post-Civil War through 1963) will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
This event brought to you by,
Wolfe Lumber Mill All American Security Montante Construction Crosby's
Niagara Frontier Publications J. F. Machining Co., Inc.
and Friends of the Fort
Skip and Jennifer Adams
Timothy and Diana Adamson
Bruce D. Aiken
Antone Alber
Jerome and Claudia Andres
John and Rose Attanasio
Joan G. Aul
Bradford Banks
Richard Barbuto
John Battaglia
Aaron Blake
Nicholas Bolla
Dolores Bower
Joan Broderick
Philo and Jeanette Brooks
Ellen P. Burd
Robert and Christa Caldwell
Margaret C. Callanan
Jimmy and Kelsey Carminati
Tom Chambers
Paul and Charlotte Clark
Ellen Colangelo
John and Katherine Collard
Joanne and Frank Collins Charitable Foundation, Inc.
John H. Campbell and Heidi C. Crow
James and Mary Currie
Mark and Audrey Dailey
Marion Dann
Joseph P. Deberoalis, Jr.
Ralph and Joan DeVantier
Betsy and Peter Diachun
Jack Doyle
Melissa Dunlap
Wilfred E. Duval
Bob and Kate Emerson
Robert Ensminger
Karen Fenzl
Robert J. Fierle, Jr.
Carol Force
Mark Fox
Marianna L. Gitterman
Gretchen Green
MIchelle Griep
Ken and Nancy Greulich
Mary Lou Hallatt
Art and Judy Hannah
Randy Hartman
Mark Hersee
Linda A. Hershey
Elaine and Jim Hildreth
Thomas and Constance Hodick
Margaret B. Hoff
Donna Huggins
James Ibaugh
Candyce Ingwersen
Edward Jackson
Jack James
Toby and Ginny Jewett
Thomas Johnstone
Kim Jones
Laura Jones
F. Warren and Leila Kahn
John Kern
Victoria and Paul King
Claire and Richard Knowles
Greg Kozlowski
Roderick and Margaret Ladd
Patrick Lester
Mark and Kathy Lippman
John Loss
Louise E. Mangan
Albert E. Martin
Thomas McCullough
Theresa McFarland
Mildred McLaughlin
Susan Maguire
Aiden Mesic
Frank and Linda Meyer
Mark and Margot Mitschow
Thomas Montante
Charles Moran
Bruce Newton
Robert C. Newton
Edward and Susan Nickson
Howard and Karen Noonan
Mary Ann Oliver
Nicole Pane
Beverly Penland
Ronald and Judith Pera
Peter and Cheryl Pfohl
Edward Pierce
James Pilon
Richard and Janice Powell
Robert E. Powell
Thomas Prenatt
Narendra Ramcharitar
Otto and Polly Redanz
Jane Reese
Amy Reynolds
Charles and Mary Rice
Jodee Riordan
Guy and Pat Rizzuto
Charles B. Roberts
Joseph and Jennifer Roehmholdt
John Roess
Roy and Carol Rogers
May Ann Rolland
Vincent Saccomando
James and Mary Ann Schneider
Jim and Karen Schultz
Glenn J. Scott
James Shear
Dan and Karen Sherwood
Richard and Linda Shick
William and Jean Siddall
Cynthia and David Silverstein
Jaqueline Singer
Raymond Spencer
A.T. Steegmann
Alexander and Colleen Swavy
John and Monica Sweeney
Dr. William P. Tatum III
Dennis and Marlene Taylor
Georgia Thomas
David Thompson
L. Michael Trapasso
Jan H. Van Harssel
Elizabeth Vetell
Ronald Vetter
E. Gail Walder
Randall and Patricia Wayne
Quain Weber
Sharon Wesoloski
Larry and Linda White
Nancy Widdowson
Robert Wiltshire
Jeff and Audra Wood
Michael F. Woods
Terrance John Yount
Thank you!
Hours of Operation
January through March, Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (Closed Monday-Thursday) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
April 1- June 30, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
July and August, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
September 1 - October 15, Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
October 16 - December 31, Open Wednesday through Sunday (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The fort will be open daily during Christmas week, December 26 - 31.
Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
General Admission
Adults: |
$20.00 |
Children (6 to 12 years) |
$12.00 |
Children (5 and under): |
FREE |
Support the Fort
Old Fort Niagara is operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association, an independent, not-for-profit organization established in 1927. We do not rely on tax dollars. Instead, the Fort is funded through a combination of admission fees, museum shop sales, and charitable contributions.
Newsletter Sign-Up
Keep up to date on Old Fort Niagara events and happenings! Sign up here for our e-newsletter.