FORT HENRY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE'S TOP TWENTY FACTS
1: THE REASON THE FORT IS CALLED FORT HENRY IS...
The peninsula on which Fort Henry is built is called Point Henry, named after Henry Hamilton, 1st Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, 1782-85.
2: THE FORT WE WORK IN TODAY IS NOT THE ORIGINAL FORT BECAUSE...
The Fort today is the 2nd Fort Henry. The 1st was originally built in 1813. It was dismantled when the 2nd fort was built from 1832-37.
3: THE ENEMY THE FORT WAS TO DEFEND AGAINST WAS...
Throughout most of the 1800's, the United States.
4: THE PURPOSE OF FORT HENRY WAS...
To defend the terminus of the Rideau Canal and the Royal Naval Dockyards. Please refer to the Fort Henry Commemorative Integrity Statement (CIS), for more information.
5: WHY FORT HENRY NEEDED RESTORATION IN THE 1930's ...
The Fort was taken out of service in 1891, after which it fell into disrepair. It was rebuilt from 1936-38 and on August 1st, 1938, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King opened the Fort as a museum and historic site.
6: TODAY THE FORT IS...
A living museum- our interpretive staff portrays life in the year of 1867 for the soldiers and their families who were in garrison here. (In garrison means they were stationed at the Fort.) As well, we offer our visitors shopping and dining, host special events and we keep our site clean and well preserved.
7: THE FORT WAS USED AS A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP/INTERNMENT CAMP IN... the 1837 Rebellions, during World War I, 1914-18, and during World War II, 1939-45. It was reopened as a museum in 1948.
8: THE YEAR 1867 WAS CHOSEN AS THE YEAR TO PORTRAY BECAUSE...
Even though soldiers were stationed at the Fort from 1812-91, 1867 was the year of Confederation, when Canada became a nation, and when the Snider-Enfield rifle was introduced into the British army. The rifle was the first breach-loading rifle (loaded from the back of the barrel), representing a major advancement in weaponry. 9: OUR MASCOT IS DAVID THE X, AND IS A GOAT BECAUSE...
The Royal Welch Fusiliers served at Fort Henry from 1842-43 and they had a goat mascot. In commemoration of their service, the St. David's Society of Toronto presented a white Saanen goat to us as our mascot. Our current goat is the 10th mascot, therefore, "David X".
10: WHERE DO GUIDED TOURS BEGIN, AND WHEN DO THEY DEPART?
The tours leave from the main gate of the lower fort. The first tour is at 9:45 a.m. They leave every half-hour afterward until the last tour at 4:00 p.m.
11: WHAT OTHER KEY PROGRAMMING EVENTS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT?
All information is found in the programme matrix. Staff should especially know when the Gun Salutes, the Garrison Parade, Muster Parades and Schoolrooms take place, as well as their location.
12: WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT UNIFORMS MEAN? The red coat represents members of a Regiment of the Line. These are infantrymen (or foot soldiers) who carry rifles. The long red tunic is a dress uniform, worn into battle or on parade. The shorter red jacket is called an undress uniform and is used for everyday work around the Fort. The midnight blue jacket is an artillery uniform and is used for firing the big guns (cannon) on the wall. The red coat with wings and lace on the sleeve, back and collar is a drums’ uniform. The Drums are members of the infantry and play the bugle, fife or drum. The officers patrol jacket is black without metal buttons. It is the equivalent of the soldiers' undress uniform.
13: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BIG DITCHES GOING DOWN TO THE WATER?
Due to the impracticality of making an amphibious landing on the southern end of Point Henry, the American attack was expected from the land (the north side of the Fort). As a result, the north side is much stronger, with thicker walls and more guns. The flanking ditches were built to keep the enemy to the north side of the fortification. They are 30 feet deep and 40 feet wide. It would take enemy engineers time to bridge the ditch under constant fire, which would prevent an attacking force from getting around to the weaker south face.
14: WAS THE FORT ALL BUILT AT THE SAME TIME?
No. The Lower Fort and the Advanced Battery gun emplacement were built between 1832-37. The Commissariat Stores in the Advanced Battery, was built 1841-43. The two Branch Ditch Towers and the four Martello Tours built around the city (Cedar Island, Fort Frederick, Shoal Tower in front of City Hall and Murney Tower near Kingston General Hospital) were built 1845-48.
15: WERE WOMEN AT THE FORT?
Yes. Although only men were allowed to be soldiers in 1867, there was a female presence at Fort Henry. Twelve soldiers for every company of 100 men were allowed permission to marry. In addition, there was a schoolmistress, occasional visits from officers' wives, and female children.
16: WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE BODIES OF WATER WHICH SURROUND THE FORT?
On the West side (near RMC) is Navy Bay. On the East side (between the Fort and Cedar Island) is Deadman’s Bay.
17: WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT FORT HENRY?
Besides our daily interpretative programming, we offer shopping in the Garrison Gift Shops, a restaurant which serves cafeteria food and also caters to special occasions, washrooms, a first aid room, conference rooms, museum rooms, a picnic area, a library, education programmes, an Orientation Room and site rental for private functions.
18: WHAT ARE REVERSE FIRING CHAMBERS? They are small rooms on the outside wall of the Fort (called the Counterscarp Galleries) which allow the garrison to fire back at the exterior wall of the Fort (called the Scarp) creating a cross-fire in the ditch.
19: IMPORTANT HISTORICAL PEOPLE WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARE...
Henry Hamilton- see above.
Queen Victoria- reigning monarch from 1837-1901.
Prince Albert- the Royal Consort, husband of Queen Victoria.
Sir Arthur Wellesley-Duke of Wellington, Commander - in - Chief of the British Army, and on the Board of Ordnance when decision to build second Fort was made.
Ronald L. Way- Oversaw the 1930's reconstruction of Fort Henry and founder of the Fort Henry Guard.
John Montgomery-led escape from Fort Henry in 1838 (part of the Educational. Program, i.e. the ghost tour). Sir Richard Bonnycastle-Commanding Officer of the Kingston Garrison during the 1837 Rebellions, he organised the defence of Kingston, as regular British Troops were sent to Lower Canada. His organisation of the local militia led to him being knighted for his efforts.
Sir John A. Macdonald- first Prime Minister of Canada, 1867.
Nils Gustov Von Schoultz-leader of a doomed raid from the United States on Prescott, (The Battle of the Windmill) he was imprisoned and executed at Fort Henry (Part of our Daily Programming, and part of the Educational Program, i.e. the ghost tour).
20: NEW PROGRAMMING IN 2014 INCLUDES: Having our new trades exhibit open, and the baking of fresh bread in the bakery of the Fort.