Fort de Chartres

There has been 3 different forts located in the vicinity of the present day Fort de Chartres. The first 2 were constructed with wood. The first was completed in 1720 and was named in honor of Louis duc de Chartres. Work on the second fort began in 1725. It was 160 sq. ft., with 4 buildings enclosed. The third fort was constructed of stone in the 1750's by the French colonial government and enclosed 4 acres.

The French controlled the region, which was part of the Illinois Country (a region expanding as far as Lakes Michigan and Superior, to the Ohio and Missouri Rivers) until 1763. This year marked the end of the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years' War in Europe. The British then took control of the Fort on Oct. 10, 1765 and renamed it Ft. Cavendish. However it was abandoned by the early 1770's. Inhabitants of the region eventually carried off much of the stone making up the structure, utilizing it for the construction of other buildings.

In 1913 the State of Illinois bought the site and began its restoration. Some buildings have been outlined by wood frames in a technique called ghosting. In the 1930's the WPA rebuilt the gateway (pictured in left column) and two stone buildings. Also included as part of the reconstructed Fort are bastions, musket ports and embrasures for cannons. These can be seen in this view of the Fort from a distance.

In 1993 the flood waters came dangerously close to the Fort. (Photograph courtesy of Bonnie Gums.)

The site is now managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. There is also a new and very informative museum on the site. Fort Chartres is located on State Rt. 155, 4 miles west of Prairie du Rocher. The mailing address is R.R.2, Prairie du Rocher 62277. Their e-mail address is: ftdchart@htc.net . The phone number is (618) 284-7230. Additional web sites which may be of interest include: the IHPA site, the site created by the Fort Chartres Society and one by The University of South Alabama Center for Archaeological Studies. It was through this site that the picture during the flood and the one of the powder magazine before restoration became known to the webmaster of this site. They also list a number of books about the history and archaeology of the region.

The events held at the site include:
Kids Day, first weekend in May
The French and Indian War Assemblage, first week in October
Rendezvous held each year during the first weekend of June. It is a celebration and re-creation of 18th century life in this region.

Below are some pictures from the 1999 Rendezvous: