My wife Laurie and I visited Fort William Henry on August 7, 2026. CJ had just finished the musket demonstration. I asked him when the next demonstration was and he suggested that we go and watch the cannon demonstration and firing, which we did and then after that he would give us a private demonstration of the musket. The cannon firing was expertly explained by Ted O., who explained technically what a soldier did to fire a cannon, but also engaged members of audience and made it fun! Then we went back to see CJ and he gave us a great demonstration on how to fire a musket. He also explained the parts of the musket to us, including the novel way that it is cleaned. But CJ didn't stop there, he shared with us that he is a 6th and 8th grade history teacher and since I'm a teacher too, I found his explanation of how he engages his students to bring history alive fascinating! CJ said that the colonists might have not won the war against Britain, if it hadn't been for all the military experience they acquired by fighting alongside the British in the French and Indian War for seven years. Then we went onto the 12 noon talk by Ted O., who gave a very enthusiastic and informative talk about the Fort it's construction, the history leading up to the French and Indian War and the surrender of the fort to General Montcalm and as he did in the cannon demonstration engaged the audience in his talk! Then we went and talked to Bob the carpenter. He explained to us how he was in Lake George when the fort was reconstructed in 1954 - 1955. He told us how he acquired the wood he uses to make everything made of wood that the soldiers and their families use at the fort, like chairs, tables, wooden spoons, etc. Bob was very interesting to talk to! After interacting and talking to CJ, Ted O. and Bob, my wife and I felt we were back in the 1750's and truly enjoyed our visit, which was the highlight of our vacation! We're looking forward to returning for another visit in the future! Sincerely, Tom & Laurie DeVivo Berlin, CT read more

The tour guide was absolutely amazing. He kept making jokes and was keeping us entertained almost the entire time. It was Sir James. He did a phenomenal job and he showed us around, telling us how to take the best photos. I got to be a demonstration. A truck show was making sound the entire time but that did not stop him. He did an excellent job and overall the tour was amazing and the history was interesting and a bit unnerving but it kept me hooked. read more

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History comes alive at Fort William Henry. It is a restored Colonial fortress of 1755-1757 French and Indian War era located at the strategic south end of Lake George, an important part of the water transportation system used by both Native Americans and the Europeans Visitors to the Fort have an opportunity to experience plenty of history: the long boiling tensions between global superpowers, the early days of a new nation and its impact on indigenous peoples, and the backdrop for one of American literature's great novels. Visitors can experience this living museum with guided tours, historical interpreters, musket and cannon fire demonstrations, and self-guided tours. In the fall, the Fort hosts Haunted History Tours featuring guided tours of spooky spots at the Fort and some great ghost stories. If you are a history buff, this is a must-do for you. read more

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The tour in and of it's self was good, but i fore warn you that one of their tour guides will leave a bad impression of the heroes who died there during the Siege by the French and Indian forces. Much to my dismay while standing in the center of the court yard of which i was told is hollow sacred ground given there were many deaths in that very spot and some actually buried their, with that the tour guide during his story telling of the battle and death that happened their he goes on talking about how the soldiers serving their had syphilis... What in the hell purpose did that serve other than telling people soldiers were having sex with infected women there---- people in the group were shocked by this and how he degraded the reputations of these dead hero's! this is what the management here indorses! be aware especially if you have children with you. I was there on the weekend of Oct 31st thru Nov. 2nd attached is a picture of the guide read more

Fort William Henry Museum - Tour guide - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

This place is nice, especially if you happen to be in the area during off-peak season because it seems to be the only place that stays open almost year-round. I personally found it short for the price of admission, though I will say I absolutely loved the live interactions and demonstrations the staff gives to visitors. The staff is superb, and the live demos truly intriguing and educational, especially if you are into history. I also opted for the ghost tour, but this isn't the first ghost tour of its kind that I have done. Often times I feel like if I don't witness paranormal activity, then the story is made up for a quick money grab. Is that the case here (no ghosts)? Honestly, I don't know, but they sell the story really well. read more

As a kid my Mom dragged us to Fort Ticonderoga. We had a blast. Now I am a Mom and I dragged my family to Fort William henry... only to learn the original was burnt down and this is a replica. They charge a lot for a replica. Have to be honest, If I knew this ahead of time I wouldn't have made my family go. Waited for the tour. Lots of information (I like but there were a lot of kids and he totally lost the kids with the deep deep dive.) The tour before us got an extra little kid piece we did not. We were told while waiting we could go watch that part but we said we would rather wait and experience the whole tour. Well that didn't work out in our favor. Heads up- anyone in your party not like loud noises? Beware- they shoot a gun and a cannon! As a parent using a stroller- lots of ground stone and only one way up to the rim of the fort. Not the best for small children especially with the noise. The gift shop is extensive. read more

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Staff is very knowledgeable and entertaining. There isn't air conditioning so it was hot inside. But it was worth it for the knowledge. They also do like musket and cannon demonstrations which was neat. read more

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While visiting Lake George at the end of October, my husband and I took the haunted history tour. It was great! The tour guides were very engaged and downright funny. Our group wasn't too big, which suited us just fine, and the tour began outside with some historical overview of the fort and the French Indian war. We then walked around the fort (mostly outside spaces, but some inner/covered areas) and the guides told us paranormal stories at various locations, inviting us to take pictures. Before or after the tour, you can view several photographs that visitors have shared over the years that show orbs and ghostly figures. The fort encourages making reservations, which we did. read more

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The fort. This was a fun and historic place to be. In a tour, we got to see shots fired. They explained the fort's origin and parts of the 7 year war during the battle back then. After the tour, you're allowed to explore the rest of the fort, as they bring you to 3 areas during the tour. You can see a great view of Lake George when you're on top with the cannons. After sightseeing all you can in the fort, there is a gift shop next to the admissions counter. read more

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This is definitely a place to plan to visit while checking out Lake George. Its a fun little expedition into the past with a wonderful gift shop, live reenactment, traditional exhibits and spectacular views of the lake from its battlements. read more

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We parked in the lot (2 an hour metered parking) and intended to see the Fort, restrooms closed for renovation and gift shop closed for season!! But no off season prices for entry - $25 for an adult entry. Unlike some of the other historic sites we have visited, this one looked like an amusement attraction. read more

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Visited on a nice sunny Monday and did not have to wait at all to roam around. Opted to explore on our own instead of doing a guided tour because we had a time restriction. Everything was self-explanatory and it was a real nice history lesson: they even had a canyon demonstration while we were there. Active duty and veterans get free entry so be sure to bring your ID card if that applies to you. I've been to larger forts, but this was a nice size so you didn't take up the whole day touring it. read more

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Enjoyed our visit to the Fort William Henry Museum. It essentially took us about 2 hours to visit and see all the displays. Obviously you can take even more time if you get into each explanation of every item. The fort has 3 levels to examine in addition they also have a live display of actors shooting a musket and a cannon. The location of the fort is near the actual lake which provides great scenery while checking out the top level. The fort has a Museum shop so you can pick up items before or after; my grandson loved being able to shop for souvenirs. A word to the wise, if you park at their parking lot the price of parking is deducted from the price of admission. Overall we enjoyed the fort and the live displays as well. read more

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This is a great museum close to Lake George downtown. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise to see reinactors on the grounds, and the museum itself was very interesting for an age range from pre-teens to adults in their sixties. The fort is three levels, and can take an afternoon's worth of activity. The interpreters are very knowledgeable, and provide demonstrations on cannon and musket shooting. One regret - I wish I had known about the potential for a ghost tour! read more

Fort William Henry Museum - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

This is a must see for both the average tourist or for the most ardent history enthusiast! One of the best tours I have been on in many years and it was backboned by reenactors who were not only informative but also had such ease about them to reinforce the prepared remarks previously offered, with times of informal interactions. The Fort and the grounds are well kept and are located right in the heart of Lake George. I would strongly recommend that you make the journey to this local gem of history and do not miss it! read more

We did both the daytime and ghost tour during our most recent visit to Lake George. The daytime tour was good and my boys enjoyed watching them fire off a musket and a cannon while learning about the battle at Lake George. As you move about the tour, we had three different presenters. One of them was fairly new and you could tell. He was also having issues with the musket. The presenters did a good job of keeping it entertaining with little jokes here and there. Once the tour was over, you could walk around and explore but the place isn't that big and doesn't take very long. We came back for the ghost tour hoping we might explore different parts of the fort, but it was much of the same, just with different stories. Not sure the ghost tour was worth it in the end. read more

Such a fun experience for us and everyone that did the tour with us. Our Guide/ Corporal was extremely knowledgeable and made it easy to follow along/ understand and enjoy our time on the tour. He stayed around for questions after. The fort was very well kept and you could tell whoever owns it has been taking care of it. Will definitely be back and be something I would bring my kids too. read more

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I really, really wanted to like this museum and it was the reason for our trip up to Lake George; we had been up before, but didn't have time to spend at the museum previously. As I had just finished reading The Last of the Mohicans, I thought it would be fun to check it out. Unfortunately, there just isn't that much to see here that justifies the cost, and that's taking into account a 2 for 1 deal on Groupon. The fort is a remake of the original fort that only lasted a few years before it was burned down. It's a very small place and there truly isn't much to see here. The few workers that are there are quite knowledgeable and very kind, so that is certainly a plus. However, it's just not that interesting to warrant a visit. And if you do come, definitely avoid the gift shop, it's just filled with overpriced junk. read more

Fort William Henry Museum - Entrance to the fort - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

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We took our grandsons to the Fort this past weekend, they are 6 and 9 years old. They had a great time! We were really pleased with the demonstrations and how the staff interacted with the boys, they really engaged the kids and held their interest. You only need a few hours there, it's not an all day deal but we all really enjoyed it. The grounds are clean and very well kept, definitely recommend! read more

Fort William Henry Museum - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

If you're familiar with Colonial History, Fort William Henry is a very good stop. The fort is a modern reconstruction of the military installation that controlled the southern end of Lake George. The fort is small, and gives a very good feel for an outpost on the edge of civilization. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and happy to take time for individual questions. Young people will be interested in the presentations and along the way they'll learn a lot of early American history. We enjoyed the gift shop! It's much bigger than the shop at Fort Ticonderoga and offers a great variety - from inexpensive tourist souvenirs to a book section that offers well regarded histories of the period and the place. Fort William Henry is an engaging museum right in the middle of a tourist area! read more

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I am a huge early American history buff so when my wife and I were up in the area we decided to stop by. I found it really interesting. The interior recreations of the fort areas and video rooms were informative, there was a blacksmith exhibition outside and looked pretty cool (though in the summer it must have been deathly hot by the furnace)! The "archery area" with the suction cup arrows provided a good place to try and show off my skills against my wife, but sadly that failed. The exterior areas along the walls and the cannons really brought the experience close to home. My favorite part was probably the cannon demonstration. The gift shop was also really extensive, with more than just magnets and cheap trinkets. They had lots of good books, and access is free (you don't need to pay to get in to the gift shop like you do to get into the fort) On the day we were there a Native American festival was taking place. It was interesting too, though I was more fascinated with the fort. read more

I recently went on a group tour of Fort William Henry and had an absolute blast! We partook in the evening haunted tour and I have to say - Galen and Connor were fantastic guides. They filled it out with informative stories that were just as spooky as they were entertaining and full of historical fact. If you're in the neighborhood take the evening tour and see if you feel the spirits too! read more

The best part of this fort is the demonstration of the musket and canon firing. I was pleasantly surprised and definitely worth the admission. They offer a ghost tour which I thought was cool too. Nice place to visit when at lake george. read more

Stayed at the hotel and walked over for a tour. Great tour and if you're a history buff, this is the place for you. The original Fort Henry was burnt to the ground and this was rebuilt in the 1950's and the did a great job! read more

Fort William Henry Museum - Musket demonstrators - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

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Nice historical tour and certainly a great view of a beautiful area. Was worth the trip

We have been to the Fort for a tour and to explore during the day, and that was fun educational as well as entertaining. We recently went to the ghost tour and that was a bit underwhelming. It was still educational, and somewhat fun. But, our tour guide talked a little bit too much. I expected to go around the fort the same way we did for the day tour. Not necessarily going around freely, but seeing all of the rooms as well as nooks and crannies of the fort. I really had my hopes up for getting on top of the fort to the second level, because there was a full moon that night and I wanted to see the views from the second level. We did not get to go to the second level. Our group was made up of 45 guests and 1 tour guide. It was a little large and noisy to really catch any spirits and/or orbs on your camera. But, for what we paid it was a decent time. Groupon groupon groupon! read more

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I am not a history person however this was a very interesting museum, everyone was very friendly and very knowledgeable I would definitely go back and if you have kids bring them they would absolutely love this place! Very kid friendly! read more

Visit Date: September 5, 2015 I came here for the ghost tour, so even though I explored the fort overall my review is based on the nightly ghost tours they offer. The fort itself was spectacular to see, for some reason when I go away on vacation if there's a fort around I want to see it. I wasn't around to see it but during the day they provide reenactments of the fort's history. The ghost tour was meh. The two guides giving the tour didn't really seem that into it, one of the guides mumbled. They had no mic devices so anyone in the back of the group couldn't hear them very well. Although the guides were very nice people, I wish they had been mics so everyone could hear them and I wish they made the tour just a little bit more entertaining. To see the fort it's worth it but think twice about the ghost tour. It definitely ranks low on the ones I've been to. read more

This review is solely based on our experience with the ghost tour. Luckily we were a small group of 10. It was a crappy rainy day but luckily just cloudy during the time of our tour. It is mostly outside! The guides were super friendly, knowledgeable, and seemed eager to share their own stories and experiences. My fiancé and I were spooked at times and witnessed a few orbs from our pictures. One guy in our group got a video of a white orb moving around! We got our tix on Groupon so be sure to check groupon out to see if they have any offers! We plan on doing the tour again next year read more

Fort William Henry Museum - White orb in the casemate - Museums Near Me - Lake George, New York

Great experience and learned a lot about the history of the fort and battle. All the worker were very knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend. read more

In lieu of this tourist trap getting hit by lightning and burning to the ground, I am now hoping for the black powder used in the incorrect time-period cannons to spontaneously ignite, thus ridding us of this place. read more

While I can agree with other reviewers about some of the anachronistic features of this reconstructed fort, our family really enjoyed the tour, and learned a lot about the French & Indian war. Kids up to age 11 or 12 will enjoy being "recruited" into his majesty's army, and the cannon & musket demonstrations are a "blast" for everyone. PhD's in American history may find this museum lacking, but the rest of you will find it fun and educational. read more

Interesting and educational! Great for children! My wife and I were in the area and decided that we would go to Fort William Henry. Due to the cost I was considering not going but really wanted to see it The tour starts with a very informative film. While some of the information is very detailed anyone with a basic knowledge of the FIW would get it. My wife, who never really liked history, due to bad teachers, really found a lot of information in the film. Following the film uniformed guides demonstrate musket firing, cannon firing, grenades of the period, and musket ball making. The children then get to enlist in the army. Interestingly enough my wife and I were the only ones that found it numerous that the children had to form up for enlistment at the flogging post. I don't think any of the parents quite grasped the irony of that. Following the demonstrations you were free to tour the fort on your own. I found it quite interesting to do this. We had previously visited Fort Ticonderoga, which many people say is better, but both of us found William Henry superior in educational information, While Ti may have more displays of artifacts, those displays don't really teach you about life in the time period, I can look at tons of rifles or edged weapons and may learn about those weapons, but don't learn anything about life in colonial America. We were at Ti on Father's Day a couple of years ago. There were uniformed reenactors there to explain things. Most didn't talk to you at all unless asked a direct question. At William Henry everyone was very friendly and willing to take questions and try to help. I believe the difference was that the William Henry people are guides that work there, as opposed to people who come in as volunteers once and a while at Ti. We both found the "dungeon" very interesting. This was due to the close confines of the prisoners at that time. The various old style displays allowed you to get a brief glimpse into life in the fort during the FIW. While I had quite a good time and found the fort to be very educational, there were some issues that I had. There were some annoying visible anachronisms there. Our guide was a woman. Of course, as she said women weren't in the army at least not openly at that time. Having been an American Civil War reenactor for many years I can handle women in the ranks, I'm not going to debate that here, but she had modem glasses on. Either get contacts or a period pair. The other was something that the reenacting sergeant in me was very concerned with, since I pulled many soldiers off the field for, was safety issues of putting your hand over the muzzle of the gun. This is very dangerous and shouldn't be done even if the weapon isn't loaded. Even just the powder can cause injury. Overall though a great time. I found it more kid friendly than Ticonderoga and more educational in nature. Ticonderoga may have more displays of artifacts but case after case of artifacts does not necessarily make for a great educational tool. If you have children and want to encourage their interest in history I would say start with William Henry, and then move on to Ticonderoga when they are older. read more

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Don't be fooled by their liberal use of the word tour! The tour amounted to two demonstrations - one of a canon firing and one of a musket being fired. The "guide" seemed really knowledgeable, but didn't really give us a tour. The video they show is really geared toward historians. Most of it went right over the kids' heads - and mine too! There some displays to walk around and look at, but really not much. You can see pretty much everything in an hour or so. Note that the fort isn't the actual fort from the French and Indian War, but rather a replica based on the original plans. Going to a real fort, which often costs less, is a better option. read more

We came here because I found a Groupon that got us in for half price. I'm not sure I'd pay full price. The old bag that sold the tickets was sour and seemed to hate her job. The tour was interesting, and the guides were knowledgable, as far as we could tell. They start you out with a short film, which I found to be a bit boring. And to make it worse, some moron had baby that wouldn't shut up, so it was hard to concentrate. This film was not for kids, unless seniors in high school. Some of the "parents" were as loud as their unruly kids, and they spouted misinformation to their children at every turn. Scary. I wanted to correct them on several occasions, but didn't see the point. The gift shop was insanely overpriced, so we didn't make a purchase. Even the stuff on the clearance tables were pricey and not worth it. All in all, we're glad we made the visit, and would recommend it to anyone who had an interest in American history. read more

I would have given this 4 stars IF it weren't on the pricey side for a museum of this type. Check out Groupon etc for offered discounts. But they do regular demonstrations of flintlock firing and a cannon. You can even "enlist" your kids in the military. There's a good number of displays that would keep history geeks like me interested for a couple hours. Plan 1-2 hours for your stay. The gift shop offers quite a few items from the cheesy to typical shirts and hats. The prices are reasonable. read more

Cute little fort in Lake George. It's not particularly massive - which can be a good thing when you don't want to feel overwhelmed - there are still a plethora of areas, activities and displays to see to keep you busy for an hour or two. Ghost tours happen in the evenings for a bit of a higher price, and they offer guided tours every hour. I believe there is a charge to get in (past the giftshop and hallway, which are free), but they suspend ticket sales for some events (like the Adirondack Nationals car show, and other yearly gatherings at the neighboring hotel), so stop by and see it for free then, only during the day. read more

Great Fort Reconstruction, however when I pay close to 20.00 per adult, I need more than amateur hour from unskilled "storytellers". I love ghost tours, this by far was the least comprehensive, and most tedious, and shortest. Taking pictures to see orbs takes plenty away from the experience. Wouldn't recommend. read more

We didn't get to experience the whole Museum or any of the tour's they provide. After having dinner at the lookout next door. We walked over to Fort William Henry we walked up all the stairs so the cannons outside. The outside doors were open we were able to go in and check out a bunch of stuff they were going to be closing soon so we were able to go as far as we could that they would let the non-paying people see. And then we just got to explore as much as we could of the outside of the property of the museum as possible. When we go back next year it's something that we would definitely want to be able to explore thoroughly. If you continue to walk from the back of the museum towards the front there is like a little free Park area where you see kids on their bikes and their skateboards and you can walk through there and there's a whole area where the kids can walk over rocks and through tunnels and different things it's just pretty cool it's not part of that but because it was right there they got to experience that. read more

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We went to Lake George during a heat wave summer weekend. It was too hot to do anything. We reluctantly went to Fort William on our last day there but I am so glad we did. The workers really make the museum come to life. They were all so friendly and had a great deal of knowledge about the history of Fort William. I loved the rifle and cannon demo. The best part was when my kids were recruited for the King's Army. They were given army coats and rifles and they marched with the soldiers. After the march, they received recruitment certificates and their wages for the day. That sealed the deal for me because it was really fun for the kids. Great way to make them learn history by getting them involved. The fort by itself is pretty small. It was nice to look at the displays but nothing too amazing. The workers really male the fort worth coming to. read more