Places, Earth
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Park
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Places, Earth
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Huell Howser - He Will Be Missed Places Earth would like to honor the passing of the great California explorer, Huell Howser. I did not know Huell personally, although I met him once, but many people in California knew him through his countless television explorations into California history, geography, and people. A recent country song said something like, “it’s not what you take with you, but what you leave behind, when you go.” The song continues, “the teacher left her knowledge in the minds of many children...” Huell didn’t pass along his knowledge, he helped us to acquire that knowledge together. Countless people know more about California than we would have had Huell stayed in Tennessee, but had he stayed in Tennessee, we would know a lot more about Tennessee. Huell didn’t inspire this website, nor introduce me to all the places here, but he introduced me to many of them. Now we are all on our own again. State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help. Throughout the country, state parks, historic sites, museums, and similar institutions are struggling to continue operating. Because of general financial problems, many of these institutions are operating on a reduced schedule or in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Many will not weather these hard times without your help. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep state parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
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Fort Saint Jean Baptiste State Historic Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana marks the western French
frontier. Only about 15 miles west in the town of Robeline was Los Adaes, the former site of a
presidio, mission, and the Spanish capital of Tejas, the western Spanish frontier, now another
state historic park. Although enemies, these two outposts sometime cooperated because of their
isolation. In 1714, Louis Antoine Juchereau de Saint Denis, a French Canadian was traveling from Alabama to Mexico on a trading mission. Upon reaching a Natchitoches Indian village on the banks of the Red River, he had two huts built and left a few men behind to guard the stores and trade with the locals. Thus was founded Natchitoches, the first permanent European settlement in what would eventually become part of the United State through the Louisiana Purchase. In 1716, Sieur Charles Claude Dutisné and a small company of colonial troops began building a fort to protect France's claim to this disputed territory. This outpost was named Fort Saint Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches and evolved into major trade center in the lower Mississippi Valley. Commandant St. Denis commanded from 1722 to 1744 and was responsible for many improvements such as a double thickness palisade wall around the fort. Engineer-in-chief Sieur Ignace Francois Broutin arrived in August 1732 and by the end of the year had additional structures built amid protests from the Spanish who felt this was an intrusion into their territory. The fort was occupied by various groups from 1716 to 1762 when France ceded Louisiana to Spain after its defeat by England in the French and Indian War. Spain operated the fort for a time but since it was no longer in a border area, it was abandoned. By the time that the United States acquired Louisiana in 1803, the fort was in such ruin that a new fort was built at nearby Claiborne. Today a full size replica has been constructed using original historical documents discovered in France and authentic materials on the banks of the Cane River, which is the new name for the Red River a short distance from the original location. The fort is a short distance from a Visitor Center and features living history by park rangers. Location. 155 Rue Jefferson Natchitoches, LA 71457 318-357-3101 / 1-888-677-7853 In the town of Natchitoches between the historic downtown and Northwest State University, a few miles east of I-49 and just off Highway 6. Note: don't use the service entry on Highway 6/Mill Street. |
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| Natchitoches Parish Main Page |
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