Many blockhouses were built in North America, but few survived. Throughout the 19th century, the St. Andrews Blockhouse was used for storage and occasionally as a barracks by the militia. In the 1860s, during a brief period of tension with the United States, it again became an important part of civic defenses, but its military role soon declined. By the late 1800s, as St. Andrews became a popular summer resort, the blockhouse, once known as the West Point Blockhouse, was converted into a residence and a public tea room opened nearby, while the East Blockhouse and Joe’s Point Blockhouse were demolished. Over the years, the building became a prominent symbol of St. Andrews, was designated a national historic site in 1962, and after being seriously damaged by fire in August 1993, was restored through the joint efforts of the people of St. Andrews and Parks Canada to secure its place in the future of the town and county.