Art de Vivre (Art of Life)
April 9, 2016 |
Fort de Chartre’s Art de Vivre presentations look at the “art of life” – the skills it took to survive in the Illinois wilderness 250 years ago. The free April 9 session on firearms runs 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with a one-hour break at noon.
Volunteers from the site’s Les Coureurs des Bois (“runners of the woods”) organization will bring a collection of firearms and demonstrate loading, ignition, accuracy and cleaning. There will be no shooting, and participants should not bring their own weapons – all they need is a pen and notebook to jot down the extensive information.
Anyone interested in seeing a flintlock in action should come back the next day, April 10. The site hosts a shooting demonstration on the second Sunday of every month at 10 a.m. Everybody can watch, but participants must be in period clothing and use only black-powder firearms of that era.
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 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.
The site is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. IHPA protects the state’s historic resources, which contribute to education, culture and the economy. IHPA sites include ancient burial mounds, forts and buildings erected by settlers, and homes connected to famous Illinoisans.
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Website:
www.fortdechartres.us |
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| Location Information |
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Fort de Chartres State Historic Site |
1350 State Route 155
Prairie du Rocher, IL 62277 |
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| Contact Information |
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David Schultz |
| Email:
david.schultz@illinois.gov |
| Phone:
618-284-7230 |
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