Mrs. Miller took her U.S. History class to Fort de Chartres for a field trip on November 19, 2025. The students who attended were Eli Lanier, Lennon Hobbs, Ava Bert, Mackenzie Deimund, Amelia Terry, and Leslie Absuby. They had the opportunity to take a tour of Fort de Chartres, a historical site relevant to the French and Indian Wars.

Fort de Chartres has a long history dating back to the eighteenth-century when the French occupied Illinois. It was the third of three Fort de Chartres forts built, and the only one that remains today. That said, it has undergone many repairs. After the French surrendered most of their territory in North America in 1763, the British troops took the fort over and during that time the south wall fell to ruin due to the Mississippi river. The rest of the surrounding walls deteriorated over time as well. The Powder Magazine is the only building to survive all of Fort de Chartres’ hardships and may be the oldest building in Illinois.

One of the many events held at Fort de Chartres is the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous. It is held every year during the first weekend of June. There are many things to do at the Rendezvous, all relevant to the period of time in which the French occupied Fort de Chartres. Vendors sell eighteenth-century style goods and crafts. There are duels, black powder shooting events, and cannon firings. You can also take the time to learn more about history. The event is quite popular and attracts thousands of people to Fort de Chartres for it each year.

Overall, the students had a wonderful time and were able to learn quite a lot from the experience. According to Lanier and Hobbs, the highlights of the trip were the museum, the Kings Storehouse, and getting to see the barrels of gunpowder in the Powder Magazine.