Old Fort House

The Old Fort House is a two-story frame dwelling in Fort Edward built in 1772 with architectural features typical of early American homes. It has five window bays along the front, a central hallway plan, and a shallow gambrel roof.

The house was built in 1772 using timber salvaged from the abandoned Fort Edward nearby, which had served military purposes. During the American Revolution, the building served as a command post for both British and American forces.

The house displays household items and furnishings that show how people in Fort Edward lived in the 1700s and 1800s. These objects tell the story of daily routines, family life, and the skills people used to survive and thrive in this region.

The museum complex spans 17 buildings that visitors can explore through guided tours offered during summer months from late May through early September. Wear comfortable shoes since the site spreads across uneven terrain with structures on different levels.

Solomon Northup, author of the slavery memoir Twelve Years a Slave, lived here from 1830 to 1834 and later called it the old yellow building in his writings. His presence in this house connects it directly to one of the most important firsthand accounts of enslaved life in America.

Location: New York

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture, Federal architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.26111,-73.58083

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:49