U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer announced unanimous Senate passage of legislation that would designate the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter in Oswego as a National Historical Park.
The bill, S. 3490, includes the bipartisan Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act, along with the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act. The measure now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) is sponsoring companion legislation for the Fort Ontario designation in the House. In August of 2024, Congresswoman Tenney held a Vietnam War Commemorative Pinning Ceremony at Fort Ontario
Fort Ontario’s military complex dates back to the early 1840s, and during World War II it served as the only emergency refugee camp in the United States for people fleeing the Holocaust. From August 1944 through February 1946, the site housed 982 refugees—most of them Jewish—who had escaped Nazi persecution in Europe. Many later became American citizens.
Although Fort Ontario was intended to be the first of several temporary refugee camps across the country, it was the only one ever established. Supporters say designating the site as a National Historical Park would provide permanent protection and help preserve its history for future generations.
“During the Jewish Festival of Lights and in the aftermath of what has been an especially dark week for the Jewish people, I am proud to announce Senate passage of the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Establishment Act,” Gillibrand said. She called the shelter “a place of safety and hope during one of the darkest moments in history” and urged the House to pass the bill quickly.
Schumer said Fort Ontario, also known as Safe Haven, stands as a symbol of hope for hundreds of refugees who fled the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. He said the designation would help ensure Americans can continue to learn about the site’s role in shaping the history of Central New York and Oswego County.
Judy Coe Rapaport, past president of the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum, welcomed the Senate’s action, calling it especially meaningful during Hanukkah. She said the designation would help ensure future generations remember the stories of the 982 refugees who found safety at Fort Ontario, as well as the support they received from the Oswego community.
The bill now awaits action in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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