METROPOLIS - One of the best examples of Southern Illinois' rich history celebrates a milestone this weekend.

Although there are stories of Spanish explorer Hernando Desoto using the strategic location as early as 1540, Fort De L'Ascension was the first commissioned fort on the site we now refer to as Fort Massac, built in 1757.

Fort Massac State Park will mark that anniversary with three days of special events.

"It's going to resemble our encampment somewhat," said Terry Johnson, Fort Massac Sate Park Site Supervisor, "but there's enough change there that it will be completely different from what we do in the fall every year."

Fort De L'Ascension was built at the beginning of the French and Indian War, a struggle between Great Britain and France for control of the Midwest. Building began by 150 French personnel and 100 Native American allies on the feast day of Ascension in May 1757 and was completed 30 days later, on June 20, 1757.

During the war, the Fort was rebuilt and renamed "Massiac" in honor of a French Minister of Colonial Affairs.

As the war ended in 1863, it was abandoned by the French and burned to the ground by the Chickasaw tribe. Other than anglicizing the name to "Massac," the British did nothing to rearm the fort, leaving them vulnerable in the Revolutionary War to Colonel George Rogers Clark and his "Long Knives" regiment.

Clark was able to capture Kaskaskia, 100 miles north, without firing a shot, taking the entire Illinois Territory for the State of Virginia and the future United States.

In 1794, President George Washington ordered that Fort Massac be rebuilt, and for the next 20 years, it was an American outpost, surviving the New Madrid earthquake of 1811 and playing a small role in the War of 1812, until its eventual abandonment in 1814.

In the early years of the Civil War, the fort was used for training, but was completely abandoned after an outbreak of measles in 1862 decimated the Third Illinois Cavalry and the 131st Illinois Infantry. That is, until 1908, when it was dedicated as Illinois' first state park, due to the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The fort, which was first built by the French, was described as a square with four bastions and a curtain of two rows of tree trunks joined and set against a banquette, featuring eight cannons and housing about 100 men.

In the 1970s, a recreation of the original 1794 American fort was built, which was torn down in 2002. The structure is now on the site and is based on the 1802 American fort, which contains two barracks, three block houses, officer quarters, a well, a stockade, and a fraise fence. The site also has the archaeological outline of the 1757 French Fort.

"There were a lot of changes from time to time, but I think most of it was due to a comfort level back in those days," said Johnson.

These days, there isn't any military activity at Fort Massac, except during the annual fall encampment, and during the living history weekends that are frequently on weekends.

The 250th anniversary celebration will begin Friday evening with a presentation by Mike Wiant, the director of the Dickson Mounds Museum, on artifacts found during excavations at Fort Massac.

"Mike is very familiar with the artifacts we have here," said Johnson. "Mike is one of these guys that can take something that's very difficult and has the gift of coming down to anyone's level so you understand what he's talking about.

"It's really going to be a great presentation."

On Saturday, the activities will include a re-enactment of the landing of French Marines at the Fort Massac site on the Ohio River below the original fort site, mock military battles and in the evening, a living history candle light tour of the historic fort site with period music provided by The Duffys and Dennis Stroughmatt.

"Anybody that's involved with living history wants to take it to one more level and they are really knowledgeable of Fort Massac and the surrounding area of that time," said Johnson.

After the anniversary celebration this weekend, the Park is looking forward to the Fort Massac museum reopening in October, before the fall encampment, due to a $250,000 grant secured by the City of Metropolis.

"The museum is very much a part of the history here," said Johnson. "Sometimes just a little demonstration or artifact will tell you a lot more of the story than reading it off of a paper somewhere."

brent.stewart@thesouthern.com

351-5074

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Friday, May 18

7 p.m. Mike Wiant, archaeologist and director of Dickson Mounds, will speak on the French period at Fort Massac. The program will be in the Visitor Center, hosted by the Friends of Fort Massac.

Saturday, May 19

10 a.m. Military Canoe Landing at the River Front and Welcome and Acknowledgment of Military Units at the original Fort De L'Ascension.

11:30 a.m. "The Significance of Fort De L'Ascension in the Upper Louisiana," presented by Ken Carstens, archaeologist and historian, Professor Emeritus, Murray State University (in the Visitor Center).

1 p.m. Military Uniform Exhibit at the tent and stage.

2 p.m. Battle Re-enactment, to be located in the valley north of the historic area.

3 p.m. Ladies' Social, to be located at the French camp near the bake oven.

4 p.m. Posting of Guard

7 p.m. Evening Candlelight Tour starting from the tent and stage area. A dance will start at 7:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 20

9 a.m. Religious service will be held at the tent and stage.

10 a.m. Trooping of Colors

11 a.m. Artillery Demonstration at the original fort site.

1 p.m. French Camp and British Camp Military Drill Demonstrations

2 p.m. Battle re-enactment in the valley north of the historic area.

4 p.m. Retiring of Colors

Tent and Stage Schedule

Saturday, May 19

11 a.m. Music by the Duffys, Musicians of the 18th Century

Noon Living History Program by Dan Hechenberger of Nipwaantiikaani "A Lively Discourse on the History of the French in the Illinois Country by La Pere Sèbastien Louis Meurin, S.J."

Presentation of Military Uniforms

2 p.m. Magician, The Clockwork Clown and Company

3 p.m. Living History Program by Dan Hechenberger of Nipwaantiikaani "A Lively Discourse on the History of the French in the Illinois Country by La Pere Sèbastien Louis Meurin, S.J."

4 p.m. Music by The Camp Followers

7:15 p.m. Music by the Duffys, Musicians of the 18th Century

8:15 p.m. Music by Dennis Stroughtmatt, French Creole fiddle tunes and ballads for Old Upper Louisiana

Sunday, May 20

9 a.m. Religious Services

10 a.m. Music by the Duffys, Musicians of the 18th Century

11 a.m. Living History Program by Dan Hechenberger of Nipwaantiikaani "A Lively Discourse on the History of the French in the Illinois Country by La Pere Sèbastien Louis Meurin, S.J."

Noon Music by Dennis Stroughmatt, French Creole fiddle tunes and ballads for Old Upper Louisiana

The Duffys, Musicians of the 18th Century

2 p.m. Magician, The Clockwork Clown & Company

3 p.m. Dennis Stroughtmatt, French Creole fiddle tunes and ballads for Old Upper Louisiana