Fort Blunder was built on Canadian land during the War of 1812, costing $275,000. In 1842, the border was altered, bringing the fort onto American soil, and a new fort, Fort Montgomery, was built. Fort Montgomery was dismantled over the years, with its stones used in the construction of a new bridge.
Lake Champlain in upstate New York was a hotspot during America’s contentious history with Great Britain during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The lake on the US border with Canada provided a direct route into the nascent country. After a series of fierce battles, President James Madison ordered a fort built on a tiny spit of land called Island Point, with 30-foot octagonal walls and 125 gun positions—enough firepower to blow up any british ship.
But after two years of construction, which began in 1816 and cost an estimated $275,000, a problem was discovered. The fort was actually located on Canadian land. The actual boundary was nearly a mile south of there, earning the partially completed structure the nickname Fort Blunder.
A little mistake:
In 1842, American and British diplomats sat down to discuss various border issues. During the talks, the border between the United States and Canada was altered, bringing the old Fort Blunder onto American soil.
The United States also began building a new fort at Island Point, naming it Fort Montgomery after Revolutionary War hero General Richard Montgomery, who was killed during the 1775 invasion of Canada.
Over the years, scavengers tore Fort Montgomery apart, hauling in bricks, lumber, and other recyclable building materials. Much of the fort was dismantled and its massive stones used in the construction of a new bridge across Lake Champlain.
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