In Oswego, men lost their lives at a fortress built by the British during the French and Indian War in 1755. From 1944 to 1946, refugees were temporarily housed during the Holocaust. Today, Fort Ontario continues to receive support to be designated as a national park.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joined the effort to designate the historic site as a national park.

As of March 7, Gillibrand introduced legislation that authorized the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study on whether Fort Ontario and the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum should become a unit of the national park system.

“Fort Ontario and the Safe Haven Museum serve as a symbol that defined a generation, helping others during their greatest need,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “This study would help the National Park Service realize the evolving history of New York, especially in Oswego, capturing 260 years of history dating back to the Colonial times, to being the only refugee shelter to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust in the United States. This designation would be another national highlight of New York’s rich history and strengthen our commitment to preserving our landmarks.”

According Gillibrand, the national park designation would provide significant resources to Central New York, including increased federal funding for conservation and economic development programs and would increase tourism to the Oswego area.

Gillibrand’s bill in the Senate coincides with legislation that U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-Camillus) and Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld) introduced to the House of Representatives in December 2015.

“I am pleased to co-sponsor this bill to promote our proud upstate New York history,” Hanna said in a statement. “It is important to recognize our historical assets and to do so in a way that promotes and encourages tourism for our region.  I look forward to the results of this comprehensive study to determine how to best preserve and protect Fort Ontario.”

The star-shaped fort has been featured in several monumental wars throughout history, including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. It was a refugee camp during World War II under executive order from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

It first opened in 1953 as a state historic site.

Historic Site Manager Paul A. Lear is thankful for the support of a site that means so much to history.

“Fort Ontario is a symbol of endurance, hope and inspiration in a complex, rapidly changing technological world, whose message needs to reach a worldwide audience,” Lear said in a statement. “On behalf of Fort Ontario supporters everywhere, and for those not yet aware of its significant role in world history, we are grateful to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for her efforts to recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military and families at the old army post from the French and Indian War to the War on Terroism, and its unique role as the only Emergency Refugee Shelter in the United States for mostly Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust during World War II.”