Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, NY is closed and its employees furloughed as a result of the Government Shutdown.
“We hope that Washington D.C. will quickly come to a consensus on the Federal budget,” a statement sent to the press by the Rome Historical Society – Friends of the Fort said.
The original Fort Stanwix was built by the British between 1758 and about 1762. The fort was located to guard the Oneida Carry between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, an important portage during the French and Indian War. The Fort was the site of the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768) between Britain and Native American tribes, and the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784) between the tribes and the American government.
The Fort Stanwix National Monument is a reconstruction built in 1974-1976 at the site by the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior which also includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
“During the federal government shutdown, some national parks may remain accessible to visitors; however, access may change without notice,” Arthur L. Simmons III, Executive Director of Rome Historical Society – Friends of the Fort, said in an e-mail to supporters. “Some parks are closed completely. Some visitor services may be available when provided by concessioners or other entities. For most parks, there will be no National Park Service-provided visitor services, such as restrooms, trash collection, facilities, or road maintenance.”
For more information about the shutdown, see the Department of the Interior’s Government Shutdown website HERE and the websites and of individual parks.
More than 200 Friends Groups have been created across the United States to assist National Parks with programs and projects that are often unobtainable with annually appropriated funds. As the Friends Group of Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome Historical Society- Friends of the Fort advocates for the park, shares resources, delivers special programs and events, and fund-raises. For more information, visit their website HERE.
Photo of Areal view of Fort Stanwix National Monument courtesy National Park Service .
Leave a Reply