Fort York

Fort York is a historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west of downtown Toronto (Ontario, Canada). The fort was built by the British Army and Canadian militia in the late 17th century and early 18th century to defend the settlement York and the new capital of Upper Canada region from the threat of a military attack, especially from the newly independent United States to protect.

Foundation

In 1793, John Graves Simcoe lieutenant governor approved a garrison on the present site of Fort York, just west of the mouth of Garrison Creek on the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario. Simcoe realized that was ideal for the establishment of a settlement and the defense because of its natural harbor and the vast distance to the United States this site. At the time of construction of Fort York was monitored the western entrance of the bay from there only site. Simcoe had also decided to make York the capital of Upper Canada region. The first Government House and Parliament were one and a half miles east of the fortress built near the present-day Parliament Street.

National Historic Site

In 1923, Fort York was declared a National Historic Site.