Mount Defiance and visiting American Revolutionary War sites in upstate New York

I spent Columbus Day weekend 2020 seeing American Revolutionary War related historical sites in the upstate NY Adirondack Mountains. Mount Defiance, the one shown here, was only one of them. For those interested in seeing such historical sites, ownership of such sites in the USA can be confusing and complex.

Fort Ticonderoga is owned by a private not-for-profit who also own Mount Defiance, the nearby hilltop from which Burgoyne menaced the fort in 1777.

Crown Point, well worth seeing, is about 25km north and owned and operated by the state of New York Parks department ( signage is bilingual French/ English due to proximity to Quebec. This is not common for NY government services)

Saratoga Battleground, about three hours to the south of Ticonderoga is part of the US National Park System and run by them. Johnson Hall, the home of Sir William Johnson, about an hour west of Saratoga is again a state run historic park but Fort Johnson, Johnson's earlier home about a half hour drive south of his later home, is owned and operated by the Montgomery County Historical Society. ( Technically not an American Revolutionary War site, of course, but well worth seeing if you visit his other home. )

Many close in the October or so for the winter and Covid-19 has complicated everything. Saratoga Park visitors center is closed but the grounds are open. Crown Point is closing early this season and closes this week, but when I arrived they had a policy of only one family at a time inside the museum at a time and I had to sit outside on a bench for 15 minutes waiting ( cool, museum though)

These are photos of Mount Defiance. In 1777, when Burgoyne's army headed south from Montreal in the campaign that culimnated in the Battle of Saratoga, one of the obstacles they faced was the American controlled Fort Ticonderoga. Burgoyne put the fort under siege and sought out good places to post cannons in order to menace the fort. One of these spots was nearby Mount Defiance. 

Today, Mount Defiance offers a beautiful view of the fort and Lake Champlain. It is private property, owned by the same not-for-profit foundation that owns Fort Ticonderoga. If one wishes to drive up to the observation spots, one needs to use a gated private road. Tickets are available for purchase at the fort. However, if one wishes and is in good health, you can easily park by the gate and walk up the raod to the picnic and viewing area, 

The view of the fort and the Lake Champlain from Fort Ticonderoga. 

A New York state historical marker  on the small town road
that leads to Mount Defiance and its private road. 

Another view of the fort from Mount Defiance.

At the top of Mount Defiance there is a flag pole and a fenced in area
that is part of the local power generation system.

As one heads up to Mount Defiance you pass a civil war monument.