GLIN==> Press release: Follow America's Byway along Great Lakes to NY History Signature Event

PRESS RELEASE: June 15, 2009
Contact: Teresa Mitchell, Great Lakes Seaway Trail, 315-646-1000
 
Follow America¹s Byway along Great Lakes to NY History Signature Event -
July 3-5 - More than 2,300 Reenactors Restage History at Old Fort Niagara

Youngstown, NY -  On July 3-5, more than 2,300 colorful historic reenactors
clad in red, white, blue and buckskin will bring the 250th anniversary of
the French and Indian War to life at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY. The
best way to reach the big event that is the 2009 ³Signature Event² of the
New York State 250th French and Indian War Anniversary Commemoration
Commission is to follow one of America¹s Byways, the 518-mile Great Lakes
Seaway Trail that parallels New York and Pennsylvania¹s freshwater
shorelines.

The swift waterways and footpaths of power along the St. Lawrence River,
Lake Ontario, Niagara River and Lake Erie in New York and Pennsylvania
helped decide the outcome of the French & Indian War. A journey along the
Great Lakes Seaway Trail offers an authentic American experience of the
landscapes of history, well-kept military architecture, battlefields and
waterfront staging areas. This byway is also home to two Indian Nations that
maintain their distinct cultural traditions.

Battle reenactments, military and suttler encampments, and special events
take place year-round at Great Lakes Seaway Trail historic destinations
including Old Fort Niagara; Fort Ontario (Oswego, NY); the Sackets Harbor
Battlefield; and the site of Fort LaPresentation (Ogdensburg, NY). Library
and museum archives help visitors trace their genealogical roots grounded in
the byway¹s historic landscape.

On America¹s July 4th holiday weekend in 2009, hosts of
authentically-costumed 18th century British and French soldiers and American
Indian warriors will recreate historic encampments and the ³Siege of Fort
Niagara² of July 1759. The activities include land battles and drills,
ships, historically authentic games for the children, and an artillery
bombardment with fireworks.

The collection of Old Fort Niagara¹s military architecture includes the
oldest building in the Great Lakes region - the ³French Castle.² The fort is
a New York State and National Historic Landmark site that overlooks Lake
Ontario, which played a strategic role in the French and Indian War and the
War of 1812.

Military and maritime history and architecture (the byway also includes a
cluster of Frank Lloyd Wright designed properties) are popular travel themes
for the Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail Executive Director Teresa Mitchell says, ³Leisurely
wandering along the byway offers its own refreshing experience of the
freshwater coastline environment that influenced victory and defeat in the
struggles to establish an empire on the rugged North American continent.²

Learn more about the byway at www.seawaytrail.com or call 315-646-1000. # #
#


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/glin-announce/attachments/20090615/48b25c6a/attachment.html