Mount Independence, Revolutionary War site in Orwell, Vermont, US
Mount Independence is a hill on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain that features remains of military fortifications and defensive earthworks from the Revolutionary War period. The site preserves trenches and gun emplacements that show how troops organized their defensive positions.
The military installation was built in 1776 by the Continental Army to defend against British forces advancing from Canada across Lake Champlain. The fortification served as a key defensive position during the early years of the Revolutionary War.
The site displays recovered military equipment and weapons from the Revolutionary War era in its museum, helping visitors picture how soldiers lived during the conflict. Walking through the ruins, people can see where troops once camped and understand the everyday reality of that time.
The site offers marked trails that wind through the military ruins and across the landscape for visitors to explore on foot. Wearing sturdy shoes is helpful since the ground is uneven and some paths pass through wooded areas.
Long before military installations were built here, Native Americans mined a high-quality blue-black stone from the mountain for use in tools and weapons. This stone was traded across northeastern North America, showing the mountain's importance as a resource long before the Revolution.
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