This is a two-day program. Friday is for school groups. Saturday is for the general public.

The first documented French explorers arrived at the mouth of the Niagara River in 1669. For the next 90 years, the French maintained a presence at Niagara, first as explorers, then as traders and fort builders. 

Revisit the days when French soldiers marched on the parade ground at Fort Niagara. Imagine brigades of birchbark canoes paddled by hardy voyageurs. Learn about women's roles at the Fort. Discover how Native Americans negotiated and traded with the French newcomers. Explore how the earliest European residents of western New York lived, ate, slept and worked.

Student admission on Friday is $15.00 per person. Scholarship information can be found at https://parks.ny.gov/environment/ladders-to-the-outdoors.aspx

Admission to the Saturday program is the fort's regular admission fee.

French Heritage Day learning stations include:

Lasalle and the Explorers

The Fur Trade

Life in a French Garrison

Religion at the Fort

Women's Attire

Native Allies

Gunpowder

Architecture and Fortification

Foodways

Swordsmanship

Glass

Gunsmithing

Surveying

and much more!

French Classes- Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqKMGMPGoAo&t=43s

View Pre-visit Materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18j8PtWmFX1KwYf9BBw31bWJhbw3y736k/view?usp=sharing

Scheduled Activities for Saturday

10:30 am   The Landing of the Voyageurs    (at the Cove)

11:00 am   Native Dance                                 (Log Cabin)

11:30 am   French Women’s Clothing           (Johnson Room)

12:00 pm    Infantry Exercise w/ Firing         (Parade Ground)

1:00   pm    Native Dance                                 (Log Cabin)

1:30  pm     Argument of Kings (Artillery)     (Lakeside)

2:00  pm    Kid’s Drill                                         (North Redoubt)

2:30  pm   Help Voyageurs Pack Canoe          (Old Well)

3:00 pm     Dauphin Battery                             (HI)

3:30 pm     Music                                               (Castle)

4:00 pm     Musket Firing