Fort Drummond

Fort Drummond is a national historic site at Queenston Heights featuring a U-shaped battery with a square redoubt and an enclosed blockhouse. The installation was designed to house around one hundred military personnel and is now largely covered by a wading pool in the park's southern area.

British forces built the installation in 1814 to protect a crucial transportation corridor between Chippawa and Queenston during intense military activity. The site's inland position allowed defenders to control this strategic passage while remaining sheltered from direct artillery fire across the river.

The site reflects how small fortifications protected transportation routes during the War of 1812. Visitors can still see the layout that shows how British engineers arranged their defensive structures.

The site is now part of Queenston Heights Park and is best accessed from the park's public pathways. Visitors should expect that original structures are partially hidden beneath modern park features and require careful observation to identify the original layouts.

The fortification was strategically positioned inland to control transportation routes while avoiding enemy artillery fire from the nearby river. This hidden positioning tactic is less obvious today as modern park structures overlay the original military features.

Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake

GPS coordinates: 43.16010,-79.05220

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43