The 2002 reconstruction of the 1802 Fort Massac, with the Ohio River in the background. The original, 1757 French fort foundation impression, can be seen at center-right, beyond the trees.
The Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his soldiers may have built a fort nearby as early as 1540. Maps from the early 18th century show an "Ancien Fort" ("Old Fort") near this location.[2]
Fort Massac foundation impression, photograph pre-1920.The reconstructed Fort Massac facing the Ohio River shoreline in 2010
In the fall of 1803, the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped at Fort Massac on its way west, recruiting two volunteers.[4]
In 1805, General James Wilkinson and Vice President Aaron Burr held discussions at the fort. It is unclear, what connection this meeting may have had to the unfolding Burr Conspiracy (1806-1807), but as an important river fort in what was then the western United States, the fort was connected to several events related to the conspiracy.[5]
The Fort Massac site became the first Illinois state park in 1908. In the 1970s, a partial reconstruction of the 1794 U.S. Army fort was built, but in 2002, it was torn down, and a smaller but more detailed version fort as it appeared in 1802 was reconstructed.
Each fall, reenactors gather for the Fort Massac Encampment, which interprets life in the 18th century. A visitor center just north of the reconstruction includes a museum with Indian artifacts, mannequins in period clothing, and other exhibits that explain the history of the fort.[b]
^ abc"About Fort Massac State Park". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
^. DNR State Illinois. Archived from the original on 2010-04-21.
^"Fort Massac Site: Lewis and Clark Expedition: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary". US National Park Service. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
^Caldwell, Norman W. (1951). "Fort Massac: since 1805". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 44: 47‑60.
Further readingedit
Caldwell, N.W. (1950) "Fort Massac: The American Frontier Post: 1778-1805," Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.
Rothert, Otto A. The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock, Otto A. Rothert, Cleveland 1924; rpt. 1996 ISBN0-8093-2034-7
Underwood, Thomas Taylor. Journal, Thomas Taylor Underwood, March 26, 1792, to March 18, 1800: an old soldier in Wayne's Army, Publisher Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Ohio, 1945
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Massac (Illinois).
Map of "La Louisiane", 1719-1730, Johann Baptiste Homann
National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form
February 16, 2024
fort, massac, fort, massiac, french, colonial, early, national, fort, ohio, river, massac, county, illinois, state, parkiucn, category, protected, landscape, seascape, 2002, reconstruction, 1802, with, ohio, river, background, original, 1757, french, fort, fou. Fort Massac or Fort Massiac is a French colonial and early National era fort on the Ohio River in Massac County Illinois Fort Massac State ParkIUCN category V protected landscape seascape The 2002 reconstruction of the 1802 Fort Massac with the Ohio River in the background The original 1757 French fort foundation impression can be seen at center right beyond the trees LocationMassac County IllinoisNearest cityMetropolis IllinoisCoordinates37 08 38 N 88 41 14 W 37 14389 N 88 68722 W 37 14389 88 68722Area1 450 acres 587 ha Established1908Governing bodyIllinois Department of Natural ResourcesFort Massac SiteU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of IllinoisShow map of the United StatesNearest cityMetropolis IllinoisBuilt1757NRHP reference No 71000293 1 Added to NRHPJuly 14 1971Its site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 Contents 1 History 2 State park and historic site 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editThe Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his soldiers may have built a fort nearby as early as 1540 Maps from the early 18th century show an Ancien Fort Old Fort near this location 2 nbsp Fort Massac foundation impression photograph pre 1920 nbsp The reconstructed Fort Massac facing the Ohio River shoreline in 2010Fort Massac was built by the French in 1757 during the French and Indian War and was originally called Fort de L Ascension The name was changed in 1759 to honor of Claud Louis d Espinchal Marquis de Massiac the French Naval Minister 3 Massiac is a French town in the Cantal department The French left the fort at the conclusion of the war and it was destroyed by the Chickasaw sometime after 1763 In 1778 during the American Revolutionary War Colonel George Rogers Clark led his regiment of Long Knives into Illinois near the site of the fort at Massac Creek a The fort was rebuilt in 1794 during the Northwest Indian War 2 In the fall of 1803 the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped at Fort Massac on its way west recruiting two volunteers 4 In 1805 General James Wilkinson and Vice President Aaron Burr held discussions at the fort It is unclear what connection this meeting may have had to the unfolding Burr Conspiracy 1806 1807 but as an important river fort in what was then the western United States the fort was connected to several events related to the conspiracy 5 The Fort was repaired after being damaged in the 1811 12 New Madrid earthquakes but it was decommissioned in 1814 2 State park and historic site editThe Fort Massac site became the first Illinois state park in 1908 In the 1970s a partial reconstruction of the 1794 U S Army fort was built but in 2002 it was torn down and a smaller but more detailed version fort as it appeared in 1802 was reconstructed Each fall reenactors gather for the Fort Massac Encampment which interprets life in the 18th century A visitor center just north of the reconstruction includes a museum with Indian artifacts mannequins in period clothing and other exhibits that explain the history of the fort b Notes edit Clark eventually captured the Illinois area for the State of Virginia A scale model built and donated by Mike Gaia of Paducah KY is displayed in the museum References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b c About Fort Massac State Park Illinois Department of Natural Resources Retrieved 25 December 2018 Fort Massac State Park website DNR State Illinois Archived from the original on 2010 04 21 Fort Massac Site Lewis and Clark Expedition A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary US National Park Service Retrieved 25 December 2018 Caldwell Norman W 1951 Fort Massac since 1805 Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 44 47 60 Further reading editCaldwell N W 1950 Fort Massac The American Frontier Post 1778 1805 Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society Rothert Otto A The Outlaws of Cave In Rock Otto A Rothert Cleveland 1924 rpt 1996 ISBN 0 8093 2034 7 Underwood Thomas Taylor Journal Thomas Taylor Underwood March 26 1792 to March 18 1800 an old soldier in Wayne s Army Publisher Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Ohio 1945External links edit nbsp France portal nbsp North America portal nbsp History portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Massac Illinois Papers of the War Department 1784 1800 Map of La Louisiane 1719 1730 Johann Baptiste Homann National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Massac amp oldid 1139937112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
