Fort York is an historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort was built by the British Army and Canadian militia troops in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, to defend the settlement and the new capital of the Upper Canada region from the threat of a military attack, principally from the newly independent United States.
Founding
In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe authorized a garrison on the present site of Fort York, just west of the mouth of Garrison Creek on the north eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Simcoe recognized Toronto was an ideal site for settlement and defence because of its natural harbour and relative distance from the United States. Simcoe had decided to make Toronto (at that time called York) the capital of Upper Canada, and the government, the first parliament buildings and the town were established one and a half miles east of the fort.
The War of 1812 and Since
On April 27, 1813 combined American Army and naval forces attacked York from Lake Ontario, destroying Fort York and burning the settlement of York and the temporary parliament buildings, after defeating outnumbered British, Canadian militia and First Nations forces. Following several more US raids over the summer, the British garrison returned to Toronto and rebuilt the fortifications, most of which are still standing today.
Fort York was used as a military establishment until 1880, and again during the First and Second World Wars.
Fort York Today
Fort York now houses Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 period buildings. The fort offers casual visitors and booked groups a number of exciting services year round. During the summer months, the site comes alive with the colour and the pageantry of the Fort York Guard and is complimented with tours by professional historical interpreters. In the off-season months, the fort is busy providing educational programs for booked tour groups including school, scout, guide, and day care groups.
Related links
