Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
NEWS
150-15
September 10, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Darrell Duensing
618-284-7230
When France bid ‘adieu’ to Illinois
Fort de Chartres marks 250
th
anniversary of France transferring final fort to England Oct. 10-11
PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, Ill. – It was the final act in a world-wide conflict and the official end to France’s presence in Illinois – and it happened 250 years ago at
Fort de Chartres.
The fort plans to celebrate the anniversary Oct. 10-11 with a weekend of period crafts, music, food and military demonstrations. Costumed historic interpreters will stage mock battles and re-enact the moment when the French flag came down at Fort de Chartres and the Union Jack went up.
France and England battled around the globe in the Seven Years’ War. The portion fought in North America is known as the French and Indian War. France lost in 1763 and agreed to withdraw from the area that would later become the
United States.
It took two years, but on Oct. 10, 1765, France officially turned over its final fort, de Chartres.
The free anniversary celebration is sponsored by the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency and the Randolph County Historical Society, with additional support from Les Amis du Fort de Chartres and the Prairie du Rocher
Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, please contact the Fort de Chartres State Historic Site at
(618) 284.7230. You can also visit www.StrikingTheColors250th.com
or look for
Striking the Colors 250 th on Facebook.
Fort de Chartres was built by the French military in the 1750s. It served as the seat of government and chief military installation in Illinois when France controlled the territory. The British then took it over and used it until 1772.
The site, operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was declared a national historic landmark in 1960. The fort’s powder magazine is the oldest building in Illinois.
Fort de Chartres is located at 1350 IL Route 155, 4 miles west of Prairie du
Rocher. It is open Thursday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A donation of $4 for adults,
$2 for children, or $10 per family is suggested.
For questions, please contact the site at ftdchart@htc.net or (618) 284-7230.
# # #
