Fort Frederick is a historic fort on Point Frederick at the southern end of the Royal Military College of Canada peninsula in Kingston. Its Martello tower houses the RMC Museum, and you need to arrange a visit with the museum curator before going to campus. Fort Frederick is about 6.3 km from Seven Oakes Motel.
- Location: Point Frederick, on the Royal Military College of Canada campus.
- History: The original earthworks fired on an American naval squadron in 1812; the Martello tower was built in 1846–1847.
- Access: Arrange a visit with the Museum Curator before coming to RMC.
- Tour detail: The walking-tour route includes a panel inside the fort, beyond the Martello Tower.
Fort Frederick and Kingston’s military history
Fort Frederick is part of Kingston’s historic fortifications, shaped by the city’s role in defending its dockyard and harbour. After the War of 1812 began, a blockhouse was built on Point Frederick to protect the dockyard. On 10 November 1812, the fort’s original earthworks fired on an American naval squadron.
The stone Martello tower, walls and earthworks came in the decades after the war, and the fort was abandoned in 1870. The tower itself was built in 1846–1847. Parks Canada’s historical account describes it as three storeys, 60 feet in diameter and 45 feet high.
Fort Frederick belongs to a five-site system that also includes Fort Henry, Cathcart Tower, Shoal Tower and Murney Tower. Kingston’s fortifications were designated collectively in 1989; the Rideau Canal and Kingston Fortifications became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.
The names Point Frederick and Fort Frederick have disputed origins: they may refer to Frederick, Prince of Wales, or Sir Frederick Haldimand.
Murney Tower is another of the city’s fortifications, with its own history and visitor details.
What can you see at Fort Frederick?
Fort Frederick’s defining features are its Martello tower, stone walls and earthworks. The tower now houses the Royal Military College of Canada Museum, which is located on the RMC campus.
A walking tour of Fort Frederick includes panel 5, inside the fort, just beyond the Martello Tower beside the footings of an earlier blockhouse. Since this stop is within the fort, arrange access with the museum curator before setting out.
The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston offers another way to explore the city’s maritime past; it is a separate museum from the one housed in Fort Frederick’s tower.
How do you arrange access to Fort Frederick?
Fort Frederick is on the Royal Military College of Canada campus, and access needs to be arranged before you arrive. RMC asks visitors to contact the Museum Curator ahead of a visit; directions and parking instructions are provided when the visit is arranged.
Because entry arrangements and visitor information can change, check the official site before you go. The Royal Military College of Canada is the source for current visit arrangements and the Fort Frederick walking-tour information.
Planning a visit to the waterfront site
Plan around the campus visit rather than assuming the fort is an open-access public attraction. Contact the curator first, then use the directions and parking instructions provided for your arranged visit. If you are following the walking tour, note that panel 5 is inside the fort, beyond the Martello Tower.
Fort Frederick is one part of Kingston’s broader group of historic fortifications, so you can pair its military story with another site such as Murney Tower. The tower museum and the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston are distinct places, despite both contributing to the city’s history.
FAQs
Where is Fort Frederick?
It stands at the southern end of Point Frederick, the peninsula occupied by the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston.
Can you visit Fort Frederick without arranging access?
RMC asks visitors to arrange a visit with the Museum Curator before coming to campus. Directions and parking instructions are provided when the visit is arranged.
What is inside Fort Frederick’s Martello tower?
The tower houses the Royal Military College of Canada Museum.
What does the Fort Frederick walking tour include?
The tour includes a panel inside the fort, just beyond the Martello Tower beside the footings of an earlier blockhouse.