The photos you see here were taken at Fort Ticonderoga on September 7^th, 2008. This reenactment was to mark one of the battles that our founding fathers fought in order to secure America as their own, and free it from British rule. Fort Ticonderoga was a part of four battles between 1775 and 1777, and would change hands twice. During the first battle, the Americans captured it from the British, and held their own when the British returned to take it back. The second time the British returned, however, the Americans lost the fort, and they were not successful in getting it back when they tried.

Ticonderoga is an Indian word that means "Land Between Two Waters", and the British rightly borrowed it from their language for the name of the fort, and no one ever bothered to change it.

You can still see this same reenactment every year at Fort Ticonderoga, and it's quite the sight to see; well worth it if you're in in the area. The reenactors truly know their history, and love what they're doing, so it's an enjoyable experience for the whole family.

I managed to get quite a few shots from this event, considering I was there from 9am to about 3pm (and won myself a delightful sunburn) and saw many events. What you will not be able to see again, however, was the launching of the bateau, which now sits in the museum at Fort Ticonderoga. It was built by Dale Henry with help from Apprentice Brian MacDonald, and you can read all about it here. Honestly, this was the entire reason I went so early to the fort, and it was amazing to see. No one was really sure if it was actually going to float, especially one of the reenactors who was to ride in it (the lady), but it did and it was magical to see. They christened it with Pine Ale (which I hear is the nastiest drink ever), and she sailed like a dream. Of all the photos in this collection, those are probably my personal favourites, and I hope they bring to you some of the magic I felt at actually watching history in the making.

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