Fort de Chartres was a French fortification first built in 1720 on the east bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois.

Due generally to river flooding, the fort was rebuilt twice, the last time in limestone in the 1750s in the era of French colonial control over Louisiana and the Illinois Country.

[4] The name of the fort honored Louis, duc de Chartres, son of the Regent of France.

The state historic site today hosts several large re-enactments at the fort of colonial-era civil and military life each summer.

On January 1, 1718, the French government granted a trade monopoly to John Law and his Company of the West.

Hoping to make a fortune mining precious metals, the company built a fort to protect its interests.

The original wooden fort was built in 1718–1720 by a French contingent from New Orleans, led by Pierre Dugué de Boisbriant.

[5][6] When administration of the Illinois Country was moved from Quebec City to New Orleans, governance was transferred to the Company of the Indies.

When rule of the area reverted to the French crown in the 1730s, officials began to discuss construction of a stone fortress.

The government in New Orleans wanted to move the garrison permanently to Kaskaskia, but the local commandant argued for a location near the original site.

This new assignment required Francois to immediately journey to his new post in Illinois without the benefit of first returning home to Mobile for personal necessities.

The original intention of the French Government was for Francois and his crew to build the new stone Fort de Chartres in Kaskaskia.

It plays host each June to a Rendezvous that is said to be one of the largest and oldest in the country, celebrating frontier French and Indian culture.

The flood of 1993 breached the levee and sent waters fifteen feet deep to lap at the top of the walls.