In early 1812, as the British and the Americans were on the brink of war
in North America, Fort St. Joseph was not thought to be of much
importance to the British cause. It was disregarded as a useless, poorly
located post. But when war was delcared, the garrison at Fort St. Joseph
pulled off a miracle: it captured the American Fort Mackinac, and for
the remainder of the War of 1812 the British never relinquished control
of the Upper Great Lakes.
Built in the aftermath of the American Revolution, Fort St. joseph
played an important role in the defence of Canada. And yet, when the war
ended, the fort was abandoned, and almost forgotten.
However, there were those who could not forget the heroics of 1812. They
sought to restore the memory of the fort that was part of one of the
defining moments in Canadian history. Determined individuals campaigned
for government assistance and public support. Their efforts have paid
off: since the 1960s, St. Joseph Island and the site of the fort have
been revived as tourist destinations, and there are high hopes for an
even greater tribute to the legacy of the fort and its soldiers.