The installation is located on the southern edge of what is now the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario, directly across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York, United States.

[1] The fort and surrounding battlefield are owned and operated by the Niagara Parks Commission, a self-funded agency of the Ontario provincial government.

The British established control of their new territory by occupying the French forts and by constructing a line of communications along the Niagara River and Upper Great Lakes.

[3][1] The fort served as a supply base for British troops, United Empire Loyalists Rangers, and allied Iroquois warriors during the American Revolution.

The little fort at the water's edge suffered considerable damage due to continuous winter storms.

Part of the garrison of Fort Erie fought at the Battle of Frenchman's Creek against an American attack in November 1812.

At the end of July, after the Battles of Chippawa and Lundy's Lane, the American army withdrew to Fort Erie.

A well-prepared American defence and an explosion in the North East Bastion destroyed the British chance for success, and they lost more than 1,000 of their men.

[4] Today the church is adjacent to the later constructed Niagara Parkway 3 km (1.9 mi) north of the fort.

The Fenians, Irish-American veterans of the American Civil War demanding independence from Britain for Ireland, mounted several raids on Upper Canada.

Unable to get reinforcements from across the river, which was guarded by the Americans, and worried about the large force of British and militia that was approaching, the Fenian commander decided to retreat to the US.

The reconstruction was jointly sponsored by the Provincial and Federal governments and the Niagara Parks Commission, and was a way to invest in a long term project while providing employment during the Depression.

The Niagara Parkway was constructed starting at Fort Erie and continues 56 km (35 mi) north to Lake Ontario.