Fort Crevecoeur

Fort Crèvecoeur is a reconstruction of a French outpost from 1680 with wooden walls standing on the east bank of the Illinois River. The structures show the layout of an early European fortification in North America.

A French explorer founded the outpost in 1680 as the first European building in what is now Illinois. It was built under difficult conditions and the site was abandoned soon after.

The location shows how Europeans and Indigenous people lived alongside each other and traded furs. At this spot, two worlds met and shaped daily commerce and relationships.

The park covers 86 acres with nature trails where visitors can walk through and explore the reconstructed structures. An on-site museum provides context about early French exploration and life at this location.

The site's name means "broken heart" and refers to the suffering the builders endured during a brutal first winter. This sorrowful naming left behind a story of resilience through extreme hardship.

Location: Illinois

GPS coordinates: 40.64889,-89.60667

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40