Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

OPERATING HOURS

Operating hours for the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument vary per season.

• Mid-April to mid-June: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Mid-June to August: Wednesdays through Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM
• September to mid-December:  Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 AM to 5 PM
• Mid-December to mid-April:  Closed

Keep in mind that times and days can always change. For the current schedule, see the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

Souvenir and bookstore inside the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

PARKING

All parking at Fort Stanwix National Monument is done along the street. Cars can park on North James Street (closest to the Visitor Center) or on East Park Street. Buses and RVs should use North James Street. There is no charge.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
• Book and souvenir store
• Park films
• Museum
• Restrooms
• Bike repair station with air outside
• Picnic tables outside

Bike repair station outside the Fort Stanwix National Monument Visitor Center

PARK FLIMS

There are three films that show at various locations inside the Fort Stanwix Visitor Center. All start by motion activation, so as soon as you walk into the viewing area, if the film is not already playing, it will begin. All films feature four characters: a white female settler of German descent, an Oneida Indian woman, a Patriot soldier, and a Scottish trader and Indian agent loyal to the British. You will see these characters pictured throughout the museum as well.

One of three short films shown inside the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

The first film that visitors come to when entering the museum area sets up the back stories of the four abovementioned characters. A second film details how their lives were changed depending on which side in the American Revolution they supported. Both films last approximately 4 minutes.

A third film covers the siege of Patriot-held Fort Stanwix by the British starting on August 3, 1777. This was part of British general John Burgoyne’s plan to march south from Montreal, Canada, through Lake Champlain to capture Albany, a plan that ended in his defeat at Saratoga on October 17th. A second British army under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger marched west from Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario. Leger’s route took him on a direct path to Fort Stanwix (called Fort Schuyler at the time). British intelligence informed him that the fort was manned only by 60 men when in fact there were 800. Ill-prepared to capture the fort, he began a siege on August 3rd with hopes of starving the men into surrender. When word came that General Benedick Arnold was on his way with reinforcements, St. Leger decided to retreat, and the siege ended on August 23rd. His failure to join with Burgoyne was certainly a major factor in the British defeat at Saratoga. Seeing that the Patriots had a chance to defeat the British, the French and the Netherlands joined them in the war.

This film features live-action war violence. Men fall dead, and the dead are shown on the ground with blood on them. It is suitable for youngsters who are old enough to understand war and death. Runtime is approximately 8 minutes.

MUSEUM

Museum inside the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

The museum at the Fort Stanwix National Monument Visitor Center covers the history of how conflict between the British, the French, and the various Indian nations, starting back to the early days of Indian-European trade relations, led to the American Revolution, and the role Fort Stanwix and central New York played in this history. Topics include Indian-European trade; the French and Indian War; the British colonists’ disputes with England; the history of Fort Stanwix; the Six Nations of the Iroquois’ decisions about whether to fight or stay neutral in the American Revolution; and post-war treaties with the tribes of the Six Nations.

Museum inside the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

As mentioned, there are four characters that appear throughout the exhibits. Keep in mind that they are not specific people but specific types of people—Loyalist, Patriot, Indian, Colonist. It is a little confusing because their images appear over blocks of quotes, which may lead one to believe this is something the character said, as if he or she was a real person. Nope. This just means the quote was said by this type of person (quotes are attributed to the real people).

Informational exhibit in the Fort Stanwix National Monument Visitor Center museum

Most of the exhibits are nothing more than information panels, but there are a few artifacts. These consist of tools, bullets, buttons, and other every-day items found during a 1970-72 excavation of Fort Stanwix. There were over 500,000 objects found during the excavation, but only a small number of them are on display in the Visitor Center. There are also Indian-made items such as arrowheads and utensils that are provided courtesy of the New York Oneida Indian Nation.

Indian-made items on display inside the Visitor Center at Fort Stanwix National Monument

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

For those who want to watch all three films and read all of the information in the museum, plan to spend about an hour at the Fort Stanwix Visitor Center. For the typical tourist, a half hour is enough time to watch the three films and browse through the exhibits.

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