description Fort de Chartres Overview
Fort de Chartres was a French colonial military and administrative post on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Randolph County, Illinois. The final major version was built in the 1750s, replacing earlier structures erected during the 1720s. It served as an important center for French authority in the Illinois Country before the territory passed to Britain after the Seven Years' War.
help Fort de Chartres FAQ
Where was Fort de Chartres built?
Fort de Chartres stood on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Randolph County, Illinois, near Prairie du Rocher. Its position helped France control movement and administration in the Illinois Country. [Illinois Historic Sites](https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites/southwest/fort-de-chartres.html)
When was the final Fort de Chartres built?
The first wooden fort was established around 1720, but the final stone fort began in 1753 and was completed around 1756. The stone structure replaced earlier posts damaged by Mississippi flooding. [National Park Service](https://home.nps.gov/places/fort-de-chartres.htm)
What was Fort de Chartres used for?
It served as the French seat of government and chief military installation in the Illinois Country. The fort also supported trade, local administration, and contact among settlers, traders, and Native communities. [Illinois Historic Sites](https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites/southwest/fort-de-chartres.html)
Is the Fort de Chartres visitors see today original?
Much of the visible fort is a reconstruction, but the powder magazine is an original surviving structure. British troops occupied the fort from 1765 until 1772, when river erosion caused the south wall to collapse. [National Park Service](https://home.nps.gov/places/fort-de-chartres.htm)
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