Fort William Henry, British colonial fort at Lake George, New York.
Fort William Henry is a reconstructed fortification at the southern shore of Lake George in New York State. Wooden barracks surround a central parade ground, while defensive walls made of timber palisades and earthworks form the outer perimeter.
British troops under Lieutenant Colonel George Monro handed over the site to French General Montcalm in August 1757 after a six-day siege. Allied warriors of the French then attacked the withdrawing British soldiers, even though safe passage had been agreed upon.
The site serves as the setting for James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of the Mohicans from 1826. Visitors today find references to this literary work in the exhibits and guided tours.
The reconstruction offers daily military demonstrations and guided tours featuring musket firings and colonial-era uniforms. Excavation finds from the original site complement the exhibits inside the buildings.
Archaeologists discovered numerous remains of the original site beneath the current grounds, including burned beams and personal belongings of soldiers. These finds enabled a faithful reproduction of the 18th-century structures.
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