2017 Fort Crevecoeur Fall Rendezvous & Gathering
The Annual Fort Crevecoeur Fall Rendezvous & Gathering will be held on September 23-24, 2017 at Fort Crevecoeur in Creve Couer, IL. Gates are open to the public Saturday and Sunday 9a – 5p. A small gate fee applies. All proceeds from the gate go towards the upkeep of Fort Crevecoeur Park.
If you wish to be a participant in this event and are new to our gathering family please feel free to contact us for details; we would love to have you join us.
Experience frontier life from 1680 to 1850 at the Fort Crevecoeur Fall Rendezvous. The two-day event brings together history enthusiasts and curious spectators to raise money and awareness of the fort’s history.
La Salle and his men built the original fort in 1680 while constructing a boat to travel the Mississippi River. According to historians, the fort was burned down. The exact location of the original fort has been the subject of great debate since Peoria was founded. A reconstructed fort now commemorates Illinois’ first European-built structure.
Twice a year in spring and fall, the not-for-profit Fort Crevecoeur, Inc. holds Rendezvous Days as a main fundraiser to maintain the fort and surrounding park. But the primary goal of the event is to give people a taste of life in the old days, Hanse said.
Men and women dressed as traders and Native Americans sold items like arrowheads, walking sticks and beaded jewelry. Tents and tepees dotted the park and participants demonstrated trades like old-fashioned rope making and knife crafting.
Location
Fort Crevecoeur Park
301 Lawnridge Dr,
Creve Coeur, IL 61610
Phone:(309) 694-3193
Contact
Fort Crevecoeur Park Office
309-694-3193
About Fort Crevecoeur Park
Fort Crevecoeur Park is located near Peoria and includes a reconstructed Fort Crevecoeur (about nine miles from the original location), a museum and a campground. French explorer Robert de La Salle (1643-87) helped the Peoria Indians build a fort in 1860 to defend themselves against the Iroquois. LaSalle made a deal with the local tribes to protect them from the Iroquois tribal league. LaSalle fostered good relationships with the tribes—Fort Creve Coeur wasn’t around too long though—this original site quickly became abandoned as Tonti left to fortify Starved Rock. Tonti’s mission to Starved Rock was to only end in failure though. However, the Fort Crevecoeur’s seven man garrison quit their fort, destroyed the fortifications, and made a trek to Canada.
Mark your calendar today so you won’t miss the next Fort Crevecoeur Fall Rendezvous and Gathering at Fort Crevecoeur Park in Creve Couer, Illinois.
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