Fort Ticonderoga Timeline: 1800's

Pell Purchases

1820 William Ferris Pell, a New York merchant, buys the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga and the Garrison Grounds to preserve them. 

1826 After Pell's first home burned in 1825, he built a gracious family home overlooking Lake Champlain and adjacent to the ruins of the Fort. By 1839 the home was named The Pavilion and began its life as a hotel catering to the growing tourist trade coming to see the ruins of Fort Ticonderoga. That same year, James Fenimore Cooper writes The Last of the Mohicans concerning Montcalm's attack on Fort William Henry. This fuels Americans' interest in seeing sites from both 18th century wars on Lake George and Champlain. The Pavilion continues to thrive with the tourist trade coming via steamboat. With the introduction of the railroad in the late 19th century, The Pavilion begins to decline in popularity.