The Old Fort Niagara Diorama

by Jere Brubaker

From its location at the mouth of the Niagara River, the Fort Niagara controlled access to the portage around Niagara Falls. In doing so, it also controlled access to the "water highway" that started with the Great Lakes and, with its connecting waterways and portages, stretched deep into the heart of 18th century North America long before the advent of modern roads and highways.

A new exhibit currently being developed by the Old Fort Niagara Association in one of its eighteenth century buildings, the Provisions Storehouse, will highlight this and much more about the waterfront, and maritime activities surrounding the fort in the 18th century.

Several key components of the exhibit will help to tell these stories.

First of all, visitors will view a large wall mural of the Great Lakes and associated waterways. This will establish the concept of the "water highway" and Fort Niagara's strategic location at the mouth of the Niagara River where it controlled the access point to the portage around Niagara Falls, the largest obstacle on the "water highway".

Next, visitors will view a large topographic model of the Niagara River, highlighting the impact of Niagara Falls and the portage around it.

Then visitors will view the model of Fort Niagara in the late summer/early fall of 1780, currently being built by members of the Buffalo Chapter of IPMS. Of course this spectacular model will illustrate the appearance of the fort's defenses and surroundings in the eighteenth century, but it will also draw dramatic attention to several things including: the striking difference in the number types of buildings inside the fort in the eighteenth century versus today; and the many and varied buildings and activities at "The Bottoms" or "The Lower Town" in the eighteenth century (today the usually quiet site of Coast Guard Station Niagara).

The timeframe of late summer/early fall 1780 was chosen because it allows us to show the fort at a very active period, but it also allows us to integrate several related elements and story lines that would not be possible at some other time, namely the British Indian Department (which had buildings at "The Bottoms" during this time) and the Brig-Sloop Ontario (which sailed from Fort Niagara to founder and sink on Halloween, October 31, 1780). Plus, from the point of view of "landscape interest" the late summer/early fall allows for a bit more color.

The balance of the exhibit will be rounded out with ...

• A display case containing 18th century archaeological findings from the Bottoms;

• A flip chart highlighting the evolution of the built environment at the fort and the Bottoms, as well as the dramatic loss of land along the lake shore and the riverbank due to erosion;

• A display case discussing boats used around Fort Niagara in the 18th century (canoe, bateau, boats and ships) and featuring Buffalo Chapter member Paul Kittell's very impressive and striking model of the Ontario;

• And a display of shipping barrels and containers used to move many tons of supplies and merchandise moving around Fort Niagara in the 18th century.

All in all the new exhibit will be a great addition to the telling of Fort Niagara's story, and the models built by members of the Chapter will certainly be an attention-grabbing highlight!

Thanks to Tony Gliszczynski and Frank Blonski for the photos of the construction of the diorama, which can be viewed by clicking the link below.