Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, State historic site near Chester, Illinois, United States
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site spreads across 200 acres on a bluff with earthen fortification remains overlooking the Mississippi River and Kaskaskia Island. The visible mounds and trenches reveal how the French-built fort was laid out.
The French built this fort in 1759 to defend the town of Kaskaskia, which later served briefly as Illinois's first capital. The location represents a key moment in early European control of the Mississippi region.
The Garrison Hill Cemetery holds graves from the original Kaskaskia settlement, marked by a monument from the 1800s. Walking through it, you sense the connection between this burial ground and the frontier community that once thrived here.
The site offers camping areas, picnic spots with tables and grills, and pavilions scattered throughout for gatherings. Walking the grounds is easy and viewing the river is possible from several vantage points.
The Mississippi River shifted its course in 1881, sweeping away the original town of Kaskaskia. This dramatic change forced the relocation of the cemetery to higher ground, where you can visit it today.
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