George Rogers Clark National Historical Park facts for kids
|
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
|
|
The George Rogers Clark Memorial
|
|
 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 2nd St, S of U.S. 50, Vincennes, Indiana, United States |
|---|---|
| Area | 24.3 acres (9.8 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Visitation | 145,596 (2011) |
| Website | George Rogers Clark National Historical Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000007 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHP | July 23, 1966 |
The George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is a special place in Vincennes, Indiana. It sits right on the Wabash River. People believe this is where Fort Sackville once stood. This park is a United States National Historical Park.
Two presidents helped make this park happen. President Calvin Coolidge approved building a grand memorial. Later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially opened the finished building in 1936.
This park honors a big moment in American history. On February 25, 1779, a brave leader named George Rogers Clark captured Fort Sackville. He was the older brother of William Clark, who explored the American West. This capture was part of the famous Illinois campaign during the American Revolutionary War. Clark and his men marched through winter from Kaskaskia, Illinois to win this important battle. Their victory was a huge achievement for the American cause.
In 1966, the state of Indiana gave the park site to the National Park Service. Today, there's a visitor center next to the memorial. Here, you can learn more about the history through programs and displays. The park is part of the Vincennes Historic District.
Contents
The Story of George Rogers Clark and Fort Sackville
The memorial stands where Fort Sackville is thought to have been. We don't have exact proof of the fort's spot, but it's definitely within the park. The event celebrated here was a highlight of General George Rogers Clark's career. He was sent by the state of Virginia to protect its lands in the "Old Northwest."
His campaign in 1778-1779 was very successful. He helped found Louisville, Kentucky. He also captured British forts in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. Clark's forces had taken Fort Sackville before. But when British forces, led by Henry Hamilton, took it back, Clark made a daring march. He led his men to retake the fort for America. They succeeded on February 25, 1779.
This victory was very important. It helped the newly formed United States claim control of a huge area. This land later became the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This claim was officially recognized in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
As Vincennes grew in the 1800s, the exact location of Fort Sackville was forgotten. In 1905, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a stone marker. They thought it was the fort's spot. In 1929, local people worked hard to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Clark's campaign. Indiana decided to build a memorial to Clark's victory in the 1930s. The U.S. government helped, and the project cost $2.5 million. Architect Frederic Charles Hirons designed the memorial. President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated it on June 14, 1936.
Exploring the Memorial Building
The main memorial building is made of granite and is round. It has sixteen tall, fluted Greek Doric columns all around it. On top, there's a saucer dome made of glass panels. The building sits on a raised platform called a stylobate.
Inside, you'll find restrooms and other rooms. These rooms have smooth walls and ceilings, marble on the lower parts of the walls, and shiny terrazzo floors. Visitors enter the memorial by climbing thirty granite steps.
Other Important Features in the Park
The park has more to see than just the main memorial.
- There's a granite statue of Francis Vigo by John Angel. Vigo was an Italian-American merchant who helped General Clark. This monument is 4-by-9-foot (1.2 by 2.7 m) and overlooks the Wabash River.
- Near the memorial is the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier. Here, you'll find a
of Father Pierre Gibault. He was another important person in the Revolutionary War. - The Lincoln Memorial Bridge crosses the Wabash River. It was designed to match the memorial's style. It has carvings that tell the story of Abraham Lincoln's family moving to Illinois.
- A concrete floodwall protects the memorial and Vincennes from river floods. It's also designed in a classical style.
- You can also find a memorial to soldiers from Knox County who fought in World War I.
- There's a marker showing where Clark's headquarters likely stood during the siege of Fort Sackville.
- The original Daughters of the American Revolution memorial stone is also in the park. It has been moved a few times over the years.
Murals Inside the Memorial
Inside the building, you can see seven large paintings called murals. These were created by the artist Ezra Winter. They show different scenes from the history of George Rogers Clark and the Illinois Campaign.
-
Murals to the left
-
Statue and murals in the center
-
Murals to the right
Why This Park is Important
The George Rogers Clark National Historical Park was created to remember the amazing things George Rogers Clark did. It also celebrates how the United States grew into the Northwest Territory. The park helps tell this important story to everyone. It also works to protect and explain other historic places in Vincennes linked to this history.
The park is on the site of Fort Sackville. Clark captured this fort from the British during the American Revolution on February 25, 1779. This victory helped the United States claim more land in the Ohio Valley. It also led to the U.S. getting the Northwest Territory in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. There are no buildings from the Revolution left in the park today.
The park also honors Father Pierre Gibault and Francis Vigo. They both supported Clark against the British during the war. This park is a key place for understanding the "Revolution, War in the Frontier."
Restoration and Recognition
In 2008, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park closed for 13 months. This was for a big, three-million-dollar renovation project. The main goal was to fix a long-standing problem: water leaking from the terrace since the 1930s. They also fixed the access steps. The memorial reopened in September 2009 and was rededicated in October 2009.
During the renovation, workers replaced parts of the building, fixed cracks, and installed new waterproofing. They also cleaned the granite stones and steps. This work fixed problems that were first noticed way back in 1939!
In 2017, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park was honored on an America the Beautiful Quarter. This special coin represents Indiana.
Gallery
-
Flag display in the monument
-
Statue of Father Pierre Gibault
-
McNeil's Clark statue
-
Bronze doors with Native American details
-
The rotunda ceiling
-
Postcard showing the memorial
-
Statue of Clark
-
Outside of the building
-
Francis Vigo statue by John Angel
-
George Rogers Clark Memorial Rotunda from across the Wabash River
See also
In Spanish: Parque Histórico Nacional George Rogers Clark para niños
