Plattsburgh Bay
Also known as: Cumberland Bay; Battle of Lake Champlain; See Also:Fort Brown
Why it's listed
Plattsburgh Bay, also called Cumberland Bay, is the stretch of Lake Champlain between Cumberland Head and the mainland at Plattsburgh, New York. Its nominated area covers roughly 2,270 acres of water, along with two separate land parcels: the Kent-Delord House and Fort Brown. On September 11, 1814, Commodore Thomas Macdonough's American fleet, anchored in the confined waters of the bay, defeated a British squadron in a fight lasting about two and a half hours. With the British fleet destroyed, Governor General Prevost's army of more than 11,000 regulars withdrew to Canada. The result gave the Americans control of Lake Champlain and ended British hopes of gaining territory along the Canadian frontier. The city has grown over most of the land fighting sites, but the bay keeps its historic appearance. The Kent-Delord House, built in 1797, served as British officers' quarters, and the earthwork remains of Fort Brown mark the American defensive line. A 135-foot limestone obelisk, the Macdonough Memorial, overlooks the bay.
Significance in brief: The naval battle of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814 destroyed the British fleet on Lake Champlain and forced a large British invading army to withdraw to Canada. It gave the Americans control of the lake and removed British hopes of gaining a foothold from which to negotiate cession of US territory. Naval historian Alfred T. Mahan called it the incident of the War of 1812 that most nearly merits the term 'decisive'.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000507, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cumberland Bay, E of Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000507 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | September 11, 1814 |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 19, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Bay condition listed as good; the bay retains its historic appearance. The Kent-Delord House is a historic house museum, and Fort Brown is an eroded earthwork, the only remaining fortification. |
| Acreage | 7025 |
| Coordinates | 44.69084, -73.41545 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000507.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7202541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.