Mount Independence State Historic Site | |
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Location | 497 Mount Independence Road Orwell, Vermont, United States |
Coordinates | 43°49′33″N 73°22′54″W / 43.8258°N 73.3817°W |
Area | 300 acres (120 ha)+ |
Owner | State of Vermont |
Website | historicsites |
Mount Independence on Lake Champlain in Orwell, Vermont, was the site of extensive fortifications built during the American Revolutionary War by the American army to stop a British invasion. Construction began in July 1776, following the American defeat in Canada, and continued through the winter and spring of 1777. After the American retreat on July 5 and 6, 1777, British and Hessian troops occupied Mount Independence until November 1777.
After the American Revolution, Mount Independence was farm land, used for grazing sheep and cattle. It is now a state historic site, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972 for its historical significance.