Tour French Fort De Chartres In Illinois

You can travel back to the 1750s by visiting French Fort De Chartres, located an hour south of St. Louis and southeast of Waterloo, Illinois.

Built in 1753 by the French during their 18th-century colonization of Illinois Country, the massive stone fort was preceded by three wooden forts, with the first fort erected in 1720.

Fort de Chartres served as the French seat of government and its chief military installation in Upper Louisiana from 1753 to 1765. The current fort is a reconstruction of this French colonial stronghold in America.

*A stone tablet near the flag shares information about the fort.*

OUR TIME HERE

We headed towards the fort along a paved path passing by a flag and information sign.

*My son and I standing inside the entrance gate. The gate is also seen in the main photo.*

Next, we entered through the reconstructed gate.

You can go above it to a tower guard stand.

*Go through the center of the parade grounds and the museum is the building to the right.*

Next, we walked through the parade grounds and looked for a small sign that said Museum with an arrow pointed to the right.

MUSEUM

It is located in the King’s Storehouse which would have stored goods for trade along the Mississippi River.

Inside there are displays on the area and history of the fort.

One diorama shows the landscape of the area in the 1750s.

You can see the woodworking tools used at the time.

The fort served an agricultural community.

Native Americans also visited the fort to trade goods.

Plates, tools, and other artifacts show village life.

You can see a diorama of what life was like in the fort.

Maps visualize the territory of French Illinois.

The museum also has restrooms.

FORT GROUNDS

Next, we walked around the grounds.

Guard House

This building includes the Officers’ Room, Guards’ Room, Priest’s Room and Chapel, and a Gunners’ Room on the first floor.

Up in the loft was for storage of trade goods.

To the left of this building is the Heritage Shop where you can purchase souvenirs.

East Barracks

Next, we walked to the foundations of the original stone structure of the East Barracks.

Powder Magazine

The only original complete structure to survive and may well be the oldest building in Illinois.

Sentry Box

Where a sentry could look through an opening in the fort and be on guard.

Commandments House

Foundations of the original stone structure can be seen.

Other sites you can see listed on the pamphlet:

River Gate– Fort entrance behind the museum
Bake House: Partial foundation of original structure
Banquette: Ledge at the base of the wall for defenders to stand on.
Bastion: A four-sided work which projects from the main rampart.
Government House: Foundations of the original stone structure.
Dove Cote-Pigeonnier: Second of two wells inside the fort.
West Barracks: Stone Foundation.
Prison: The partial foundation of this structure.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you want to see a reconstructed fort only an hour away from St. Louis this is the one to check out. The fort hosts numerous events to help you experience 1750s life. If you drive down Bluff Road there are several parks to hike at along the way.

EVENTS

Fort De Chartres hosts numerous events throughout the year:

4th Annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous-June 1 & 2
Fort de Chartres Colonial Market Faire-April 6 & 7
Fort de Chartres Winter Rendezvous-November 2 & 3
Prairie du Rocher La Guiannée at Fort de Chartres-December 31

*My son sliding down at the playground.*

DETAILS

Restrooms are also located at the picnic grounds along with a playground.

*Look for this sign along Stringtown Road.*

Drive: Take Interstate 255 across Jefferson Barracks Bridge then take Exit 6 going south on Illinois 3. Next, take the first exit and make a left onto Bluff Road. In Valmeyer make a left onto Illinois Highway 156 then a right back on Bluff Road going south. Then make a right onto Kaskaskia Road then a left onto Stringtown Road and the fort is on the right.

Admission: Suggested Donation: $4, Adults; $2, Children or $10, Families

Hours: Grounds are Open from Sunrise to Sunset. Museum and Display Buildings 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday; Closed, Monday-Tuesday- These facilities are subject to staff availability.

Address: 1350 State Rte 155, Prairie Du Rocher, IL 62277