Fort De Chartres

Over 300 years ago, this French military fort was one of the most prominent structures of the French Colonial Empire. The first fort was built in 1720, although it was soon torn down by flooding from the Mississippi River. A second fort was built in its place, but unfortunately, that too was also destroyed by river floods. The fort that stands here today is a mix of original limestone structures from its third remodels as well as reconstructed parts from the 1900s. The stone magazine is considered the oldest building in the entire state (although parts of that too have since been reconstructed). If you are visiting in summer, you might get the chance to see a colonial-era military re-enactment happening on the lawn.