The Weekend of December 6, Fort Ticonderoga to Reenact Historic Delivery of Cannon to George Washington at Boston
Photo, video and media materials may be accessed by clicking here. Video credit: “Fort Ticonderoga”
TICONDEROGA, N.Y.—In December 1775, desperate to defeat the British at Boston, General George Washington turned to a new source of military power: Fort Ticonderoga and its recent springtime capture of British-controlled cannon, mortars and howitzers. Now 250 years later on December 6 and 7, modern-day reenactors will meticulously recreate the first leg of the historic journey that brought Fort Ticonderoga’s artillery to the front lines of the American Revolution and delivered the Continental Army’s first major victory.
“Noble Train Begins” is a two-day semiquincentennial commemoration of the “noble train of artillery,” a mission known today as one of the most stupendous feats of military logistics. The team of 60 reenactors will inspect and load 60 tons of replica artillery aboard reproduced colonial-era carts and wagons hauled by horse and oxen teams – marking the beginning of Colonel Henry Knox’s 300-mile journey from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston.
“Fort Ticonderoga is where America’s military force began, and we are honored to launch a four-month victory commemoration that will culminate at Boston’s Dorchester Heights in March 2026,” said Beth L. Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “Our team has meticulously recreated a period-accurate arsenal based on our vast museum collection of artillery, including a mortar directly from the actual 1775 mission.”
Months into the Siege of Boston and no closer to evicting the British Army, General George Washington met with Congressional and Colonial officials in October 1775. They agreed cannon were needed to break the stalemate, but there were few places where sufficient artillery could be found. The most important was Fort Ticonderoga, which had been captured in May. To get the artillery to his army, Washington ordered a 25-year-old civilian named Henry Knox to travel from the army’s headquarters outside Boston to New York City, and finally to Ticonderoga.
Knox, who was made a colonel along the way, mustered officers and men of the Continental Army at Fort Ticonderoga and civilian teamsters using horses, oxen and boats to haul nearly 60 tons of artillery and vital military equipment approximately 300 miles back to Washington’s army. The arrival of this formidable arsenal boosted the confidence of the Continental Army, allowing them to fortify Dorchester Heights and force the British to make a retreat. On March 17, 1776, the British evacuated Boston. Knox and Ticonderoga had given Washington his first victory.
“In exactly two months beginning on December 6, visitors to Fort Ticonderoga will witness Knox’s selection of guns, the dramatic ‘cleaning’ of the cannon using the explosive force of gunpowder and the loading and transport of artillery on the largest number of period vehicles assembled since that ‘noble’ day in December 1775,” said Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga Vice President of Public History. “The 300-mile journey which began at Fort Ticonderoga is an opportunity for us to put a dramatic exclamation point on all that happened in 1775 on the road to American independence.”
December 5-7 events for “Noble Train Begins” include:
- December 5 – 2:00 p.m. EXCLUSIVE Premium Experience: Join us on the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s arrival at Ticonderoga for a special behind-the-scenes “Ticonderoga’s Treasures” experience. This program explores original archival documents, rare books, prints, and artifacts from 1775 that illuminate Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery. Pre-registration is required, limited tickets available for in-person and on-line.
- December 6 – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. REAL TIME REVOLUTION® Signature Event: Noble Train Begins: Exactly 250 years later, watch Henry Knox at Fort Ticonderoga selecting through the captured guns of Ticonderoga, Crown Point, St. Jean, and Chambly. Experience the science of artillery as soldiers inspect these big guns before scaling them, dramatically cleaning them with the explosive force of gunpowder. Follow the first leg of the Noble Train of Artillery as Fort Ticonderoga assembles the largest number of period vehicles since 1775, with oxen and horses, to recreate the first leg of Henry Knox’s journey.
- Highlighted Programming Throughout the Day:
- 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.: Cannon Demonstration – Watch New York soldiers examine the guns of Ticonderoga for fatal faults, before scaling and cleaning them with the explosive force of gunpowder.
- 1:00 p.m.: Cannon, Mortar, & Howitzer? – Explore the three different types of 18th century artillery through premier examples from the Collections of Fort Ticonderoga. See both the “not-so-Knox” cannons and genuine ‘noble train’ artillery pieces, with real stories of the incredible artifacts on display.
- 2:30 p.m.: “From Quebec, if in our hands” — Henry Knox and Cannon for Boston – Henry Knox famously moved nearly 60 tons of artillery from Ticonderoga to the American Army outside Boston, but where did these cannon come from? Join Fort Ticonderoga Curator Dr. Matthew Keagle as he explains the origins of Knox’s “noble train of artillery” from Lake George to Canada.
- 3:00 p.m.: “the work of 43 men for 2 days” – Arming Henry Knox with the cash and credit of the Continental Congress, General Washington dispatched his most able engineer on November 16, 1775. See how Knox managed the operation, worked to account for soldiers’ labor and succeeded in accomplishing the mission.
- December 7 – 11:00 a.m.: The Noble Train to Lake George – Witness the reenactment of the critical first leg of Henry Knox’s journey. Beginning in the Town of Ticonderoga, join Fort Ticonderoga as we assemble the largest number of period vehicles since December 1775, pulled by oxen and horses. At the corner of modern-day Montcalm Street and Champlain Avenue, ‘noble train’ reenactors will drag cannon to the shore of Lake George, where they were loaded to sail up the lake and onward to the Siege of Boston. Celebrate the beginning of this remarkable achievement, which culminated in the liberation of an American city and inspiring a nation towards independence.
For more information about the two-day “Noble Train Begins” immersive event, click here. For a complete visitor schedule and more information about other Fort Ticonderoga programs, visit www.fortticonderoga.org.
About “Noble Train Begins”: “Noble Train Begins” serves as the final signature reenactment of 2025 for REAL TIME REVOLUTION® at Fort Ticonderoga. Coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration, REAL TIME REVOLUTION® is a multi-year initiative through 2027, bringing to life the people and events that defined the fight for independence.
About Fort Ticonderoga: Welcoming visitors since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga is a major cultural destination, museum, historic site, and center for learning. As a multi-day destination and the premier place to learn more about North America’s military heritage, Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors each year with an economic impact of more than $16 million annually. Presenting vibrant programs, historic interpretation, boat cruises, tours, demonstrations, and exhibits, Fort Ticonderoga and is open for daily visitation May through October and special programs during Winter Quarters, November through April. Fort Ticonderoga is owned by The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, and is supported in part through generous donations and with some general operating support made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts. To view Fort Ticonderoga’s electronic press kit, click here.
© The Fort Ticonderoga Association. 2025 All Rights Reserved.