Fort Frederick

Fort Frederick was a fortification atop State Street Hill in Albany with stone walls, bastions at each corner, and 21 mounted cannons for defense. It contained a military hospital, barracks buildings, powder magazines, and storage facilities within its walls.

The fortification was built in 1676 to replace its predecessor after England took control of the Dutch New Amsterdam territory. Between 1702 and 1732, the original wooden stockade was rebuilt as a permanent stone structure.

The fort's stone and materials from its bastions were reused when St. Peter's Episcopal Church built its bell tower on the northeastern bastion site. This transformation shows how the structure was absorbed into the city's religious life after its military purpose ended.

The hilltop location provides good views of Albany and the surrounding area. Visitors should keep in mind that very little of the original structure remains on the site today, since most materials were reused for later buildings.

The original bastion complex was deliberately salvaged and incorporated into St. Peter's Episcopal Church's bell tower, marking the transition from military to civilian use. This reuse is a rare example of how a colonial military structure was directly woven into the urban fabric of the growing city.