Fort Massac

Fort Massac (1757-1764, 1794-1817, 1850-1864) - First established by the French in 1757 as Fort Ascension. Renamed Fort Massiac in 1759 after the French minister of marine, the Marquis de Massac. Renamed again by the Americans in 1794 as Fort Massac. Finally abandoned in 1864.

Fort Massac Officer's Quarters	Fort Massac West Barracks
Fort Massac River Side View

French Fort History

Completed 2 Jun 1757 by the French, it was rebuilt in 1759-60 but at the end of the French & Indian War it was abandoned by the French and destroyed by Indians. The British chose not to occupy the ruined fort.

American Fort History

In 1794 the fort was rebuilt by American General Anthony Wayne and occupied through 1817 before being abandoned. In 1850 the fort was again rebuilt as a factory-fort that produced all sorts of military supplies. Throughout the U.S. Civil War the fort was sporadically occupied by Federal troops but was finally abandoned at the end of the war.

Current Status

Part of Massac State Park, Illinois. Replica of the 1802 American fort on site.

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Location: Fort Massac State Park, Massac County, Illinois. Maps & Images Lat: 37.1427778 Long: -88.7116667 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 338'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 266

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Massac
• IDNR - Fort Massac

Visited: 30 Jun 2010

Fort Massac Picture Gallery

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