Fort Edward Historical Association P.O. Box 106 - 29 Broadway Street  Fort Edward, New York 12828 518  747 9600

Please take the time to check out the Schedule of Activities that has been prepared by the Fort Edward Historical Association for 2008 by clicking here.

  The Old Fort House Museum was constructed by Patrick Smyth in 1772 with timbers taken from the ruins of Fort Edward, a French and Indian War fortification.  Smythe was arrested at the house in 1777 by General Benedict Arnold for being a loyalist to the British Crown.  During the Revolutionary War, the house was used by both British and American troops as headquarters.  American General Stark erected a stockade fence around the house and for a time the building was called Fort Stark.  It was also used by British General Burgoyne for a short time. 

Baroness Von Reidesel also mentions staying at the house in her memoirs. Colonel Adiel Sherwood purchased the house after Smythe’s arrest and operated it as an Inn and Tavern.  Another owner of the house was Dr. John Cochran, George Washington’s personal surgeon and the first Surgeon General of the American Army In July 1783, General George Washington dined at the house twice on his way to and from Crown Point, bringing with him another future President, James Monroe.

On Christmas day in 1829, Solomon Northup and his bride Ann Hampton moved into the “old yellow house” and lived there until 1832.   Solomon was a free black man born in Washington County who was drugged and sold into slavery.  Upon being freed and returning home, he wrote a book “Twelve Years A Slave”.  This thoroughly researched book is considered to be one of the most important unbiased narratives on slavery as told by an educated free person enslaved in the south.  This book was thought to have incited as much outrage in the north about slavery as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.

Open 1:00 –5:00 daily, June-August, September-mid October open 1-5 weekdays, closed Mondays, closed on National Holidays.  Open year round by appointment for school and motor coach tours.  Our Gift Shop is also open year round during office hours with a large selection of books on local history. 

Admission:  Adults $5.00, Members and Under 18 Free.  A discount is available to AAA members.  Call for opening details and current schedule of events.  

The Fort Edward Historical Association office at 31 Broadway and the Baldwin Barn Gallery and Gift Shop at the Old Fort House Museum are open weekdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, the John P. Burke Research Center at 22 Broadway is open Wednesdays 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM and the photographic archives located at the Fort Edward Art Center, 83 Broadway are open by appointment.

Historical Education Programs- The Old Fort House Museum free education programs offer something for every class and every age with on-site and classroom programs available. For nearly 20 years, thousands of students in grades pre-K through college and their teachers have taken advantage of these exciting programs from Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.  We feature in-school presentations on Solomon Northup, Revolutionary War Heroine, Jane McCrea, Discovering Sandy Hill, The History of Fort Edward, The Story of the Champlain Canal, the Use Medicinal Plants and a special K-second grade program on Native Americans.  We also offer on-site classroom tours of the Old Fort House Museum Campus and a walking tour of the Old Champlain Canal & Lock 7 as well as tours of our medicinal and herb gardens.  All school tours and presentations are given by appointment. Please feel free to contact our Education Director, Elizabeth O'Leary at (518) 747-9600 to take advantage of these great educational opportunities.       

Exhibits

• The Old Fort House Museum

• 1840 Tollhouse

• Riverside School House

• 1853 A. Dallas Wait Law Office

• Cronkhite Pavilion

• Water Works Barn

• Doctors Apothecary Garden

• Schoolhouse Privy