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Free Traveling Guides » States » Louisiana » Greater LouisianaFort St. Jean Baptiste
Fort St. Jean Baptiste, situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, is a tribute to the ingenuity of French explorers, who first inhabited the backcountry of Louisiana in the early 1700s. The Fort was established in 1716 and over the years, it emerged as a vital frontier military outpost. It also served as an integral trade center between the Spanish, French, and Caddo Indians. The colony flourished only until the death of St. Denis in 1744. The Fort was garrisoned by the French marines until 1762, after which Louisiana was ceded to Spain. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Fort was in ruins and was no longer in any use.
At present, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site is located on the west bank of the Cane River, nearly a hundred yards (91.4 m) from the original 1732 fort site. This life size replica of the Fort was built in 1979 under the supervision of the late Samuel Wilson, Jr. and the Louisiana Office of State Parks. The replication is based upon extensive archival research in Canada, France, and Louisiana, and on Broutin’s plans of a similar fort that was never constructed. Fort St. Jean Baptiste is a well-frequented tourist attraction in the city. It features a powder magazine, barracks, bastions, assorted huts, a guardhouse, the commandant’s house, a church, slave quarters, and a trading warehouse.
- Address: 155 Rue Jefferson,
Natchitoches, LA 71457
- Telephone: (318) 357-3101
- Toll-free: (888) 677-7853
- Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM daily. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
- Website: http://www.caneriverheritage.org
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