Madison Barracks

Madison Barracks is a historic military complex in Sackets Harbor featuring roughly 86 limestone structures, including a stone hospital, bakery, and water tower. The site displays a range of buildings laid out across the grounds, all built from local stone quarried in the region.

The site was founded in 1815 as Fort Pike to defend the northern border of the United States following the War of 1812. This fortification served as a key defensive position during the years that followed its establishment.

The limestone buildings reflect early 1800s military design, with officer quarters, barracks, and a parade ground that still shape how people move through and experience this residential community.

The former military grounds now function as a residential community with apartments, an inn, and a restaurant available to visitors. You can walk freely through the site to view the historic buildings and explore access to the nearby waterfront.

Young officer Ulysses S. Grant was stationed here and lived in a stone building called Old Stone Row. This building, where a future president of the United States once served, has since been converted into modern apartments.