Village of Kaskaskia & Garrison Hill Cemetery

Village of Kaskaskia & Garrison Hill Cemetery
Cultural Districts
4372, Park Road
Ellis Grove Illinois 62241

Information

The fort is open from 8am to 8pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
618-859-3741
Camping is $6 in Class D sites without amenities and $13 in Class B sites with electric hookups.
lat: 37.9669878 long: -89.9084039

The village of Kaskaskia, near the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers, was founded as a missionary post by Jesuits in 1703. Fearing a British attack during the French and Indian Wars, Kaskaskians petitioned the French government for a fort. In 1759, the settlers built Fort Kaskaskia, an earthen redoubt at the top of the bluff.  The townspeople dismantled the fort in 1766 so it would not be occupied by the British who were ceded the property by the French after the war.

In 1881 as a result of serious flooding, the Mississippi River changed course making Kaskaskia an island and flooding much of the town. In an emergency operation, 3,000 graves in the village were exhumed and remains were buried atop the bluff at the site of Old Fort Kaskaskia–now Garrison Hill Cemetery.

What remains today of Fort Kaskaskia is its earthworks–a still impressive sight. Visitors can admire the foundations of a once small but strong fort, containing three barracks and a kitchen. For guests, it is a powerful feeling to be standing where there was once so much activity.  Excavation at this site continues to unearth valuable insights into history.  Visitors can picnic near the fort as there are picnic shelters and grills, and stay at the campsite there.

Amenities: Benches/Seating, Electrical Hookup – Boat/RV, Fire Pit, Grill, Parking – Auto, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Playground, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trash Dumpster, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water – Drinking/Potable

 

 

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site
Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site

Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site, Park Road, Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Distance: 0.17 Away

Outdoor Experiences Forts LC Features

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Pierre Menard Home
Pierre Menard Home

Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site, Kaskaskia Street, Ellis Grove, IL, USA
Distance: 0.40 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Immaculate Conception Church
Immaculate Conception Church

203 1st St, Chester, IL 62233
Distance: 3.12 Away

Other

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The Liberty Bell of the West
The Liberty Bell of the West

Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site (Liberty Bell of the West), 1st Street, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 3.15 Away

General History

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Turkey Bluffs
Turkey Bluffs

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area, South Lake Drive, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 5.69 Away

Outdoor Experiences

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Popeye Character Trail
Popeye Character Trail

Segar Memorial Park
Distance: 5.90 Away

General History Outdoor Experiences

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Elzie C. Segar Memorial Park
Elzie C. Segar Memorial Park

Chester Welcome Center, 10 Bridge Bypass Rd, Chester, IL 62233, USA
Distance: 5.90 Away

General History

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Chester Welcome Center
Chester Welcome Center

Chester Welcome Center, Bridge Bypass Road, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 5.90 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Chester, Illinois
Chester, Illinois

Chester Welcome Center, Bridge Bypass Road, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 5.90 Away

Cultural Districts

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Chester Bridge
Chester Bridge

Chester Bridge, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 5.92 Away

Viewpoints

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Old Fire Station
Old Fire Station

822 Swanwick St, Chester, IL 62233, USA
Distance: 5.93 Away

General History

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Spinach Can Collectibles
Spinach Can Collectibles

Spinach Can Collectibles, State Street, Chester, IL, USA
Distance: 5.98 Away

Shopping

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