Fort de Chartres, French colonial fort in Randolph County, US
The limestone fortress includes a powder magazine, guard house, chapel, and reconstructed walls situated along the Mississippi River in Illinois.
Built in 1753 as the fourth iteration of French military installations, Fort de Chartres served as the administrative center of Upper Louisiana until 1765.
The powder magazine represents the earliest standing structure in Illinois, demonstrating French architectural methods of the eighteenth century.
The fort grounds remain accessible from sunrise to sunset, featuring exhibits, picnic areas, and facilities for self-guided exploration of colonial history.
The stone powder magazine contains period-accurate barrel reproductions, maintaining the exact specifications of eighteenth-century ammunition storage methods.
Location: Randolph County
Part of: French Colonial Historic District
Website: http://fortdechartres.us
GPS coordinates: 38.08444,-90.15778
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:10
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