Fort De Chartres
Halloween is usually the spookiest day of the year. But at Fort De Chartres, ghosts prefer July 4th
Paranormal Claims at
Fort De Chartres
- A phantom funeral procession is seen on specific nights
- Shadowy forms are seen around the fortress
- Distant disembodied voices are heard
- Animals in the area howl and bark at unseen forces
A French Remnant:
History of Fort De Chartres
The rural expanse of southern Illinois might be the last place you’d expect to find a centuries-old French fortress. But travel far enough down State Route 155, and just before the highway nears the Mississippi River, Fort De Chartres will appear.
The reconstructed fort is a state park today, but still very much looks the part of an old world garrison.
Countless visitors explore the grounds of Fort De Chartres each year. And while the fortress is the park’s main attraction almost every day, there’s one day each year where ghosts steal all the intrigue.
The phantoms of Fort De Chartres aren’t spotted often. But from the few reports there are, the fort’s specters seem to keep a strict schedule. Stick to that schedule too, and maybe you’ll be the next person to spot Fort De Chartres’ spirits!
Timeline of Fort De Chartres's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Fort De Chartres through the years
1720
Long before the Illinois region was part of the US, the French attempted to build settlements in the area. They sent many expeditions from Louisiana through the late 1600s. Within decades, settlers flocked up the Mississippi River to Illinois. In 1720, the French constructed the first version of Fort De Chartres. Standing as a wood-frame fort a short distance from the river, the garrison quickly became a hub of activity in the budding French colony. In these early years, Fort De Chartres’ structure was regularly replaced as the region developed around it.
1753
It wasn’t until 1753 that the permanent foundation of Fort De Chartres was complete. As French settlement continued, Native American raids became more common. The French hoped the improved garrison would help defend their citizens. At first, it did well. But in the 1760s, a new foe arrived: The British. Fort De Chartres never saw action in the Seven Years War, but still had one distinction. It was France’s last relinquished fort following their defeat. Britain took Fort De Chartres in 1765, two years after winning the war with France.
1772
The Mississippi River was now serving as a border between British and Spanish colonies. And Fort De Chartres promised to be a pivotal British defensive post. But, a flood in 1772 devastated the walls, and the British quickly abandoned the derelict fort. That would begin a long period of dormancy for the fortress. As the US formed and took control of the region, interior river forts became all but meaningless. By Louis & Clark’s expedition through the area in 1803, Fort De Chartres had crumbled into nothing more than a geographical footnote.
1913
In the early 1900s, the State of Illinois hoped to revitalize the historic fort and found a park around it. The state purchased the land around 1913 and set to restoration projects. It opened as a state park soon after, and for over a century since, workers have rebuilt portions of fort walls and recreated interior buildings. Today, Fort De Chartres looks much the same way it did in the mid-1700s. Along with looking hundreds of years old, Fort De Chartres may also hold a few colonial ghosts in its rebuilt walls.
Is Fort De Chartres Haunted?
Fort De Chartres has a few paranormal reports. But none are as well-known, or as long-lasting, as the fort’s phantom funeral procession. The story of Fort De Chartres’ famous haunting began all the way back in 1889. That year, on July 4th, a woman named Mrs. Chris sat on her porch in Prairie Du Rocher, not far from the fort.
Around midnight, a full funeral procession appeared from the shadows, marching out of the fort and down the road. As the march went by, Mrs. Chris reported over a dozen troops of ghostly soldiers and countless phantom horses and wagons. She also reported a mysterious casket being carried in the center of it all.
The Fort’s Phantom Funeral
Despite a cloud of dust following these ghostly mourners, the whole procession moved by in total silence. The only sounds came from the family dogs, who purportedly howled and barked as the specters drifted down the road.
When Mrs. Chris first told her story in the days after, she learned that this was a common report around Prairie Du Rocher. Always the same procession, and never on any night other than July 4th. Ever since that 1889 tale, locals and tourists alike have explored and expanded on the story of Fort De Chartres’ phantom funeral.
Freaky Fridays on the Fourth
Over time, lore and supposed knowledge of the fort’s funeral procession has solidified. Reportedly, Fort De Chartres’ funeral procession will only appear when July 4th falls on a Friday. Any other day, and the night will be quiet and un-haunted.
One such Friday arrived in 1997. Unfortunately, no funeral procession appeared that year. However, a pack of nearby coyotes purportedly began howling around midnight. Perhaps the coyote pack were the only ones to see the procession?
All-Year Apparitions at the Fort
July 4th has continually drawn increased interest to Fort De Chartres. But curiously, some visitors report odd happenings around the fort all through the year. Not just on July 4th. No one has seen the full funeral procession since the 1880s, but some people report single shadowy forms drifting around the rebuilt walls. It’s as if these shadows are still on patrol centuries after death.
Other visitors note distant sounds and voices while exploring the fortress. Though, the wide open land around the complex may mean the sounds more often come from animals than apparitions.
Fort De Chartres: Spooky State Park
Today, Fort De Chartres serves the exact opposite purpose that it was built for. Rather than being a rigid, imposing defensive formation, it is a wide open and inviting state park. Instead of being invaded by enemy armies, it’s often filled with picnicking families and curious history buffs.
But if the famed ghost story is to be believed, Fort De Chartres still relives its wartime past in one way, on sparing July 4th nights.
As an open and active Illinois state park, Fort De Chartres is not available for overnight ghost hunts or paranormal tours. But any interested paranormal enthusiast can always visit during park hours to explore the fortress for themselves.
And if your visit happens to fall on July 4th, keep an eye out for the silent funeral procession. Or at least listen for the tell-tale howl of a coyote that’s just seen a ghost.
