Early Louisiana history comes alive in Natchitoches
Many people think that New Orleans is the oldest town in Louisiana. Not true. Four years earlier, the French established a settlement in Natchitoches, the oldest permanent European settlement in what became the Louisiana Purchase.
“In 1714, a French Canadian named Louis Antoine Juchereau de St. Denis on a trading expedition reached the village of the Natchitoches Indians on the Red River and constructed two huts within the village,” said Justin French, the manager of the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. “He left a small detachment of soldiers to guard the stores and trade with the inhabitants. This became the first permanent European settlement in the territory later known as the Louisiana Purchase.”
In 1716, with New Orleans still two years from settlement, a small force of French colonial troops arrived in Natchitoches. They wanted to build a fort to dissuade Spanish forces located in the province of Texas from crossing into French territory. The French named their new fort, Fort St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches.
Replica fort
Today, people can walk through a full-scale replica of the 18th century French colonial palisade fort, the only one in the United States. To make the replica as true to the original as possible, the builders erected the replica fort based upon the original blueprints drawn in 1716 as well as improvements to the fort done in 1731.
“The fort replication was based upon Ignace Francois Broutin’s plans and on extensive archival research done in Louisiana, Canada and France,” French said. “Construction on the replica fort began in 1979 under the direction of the late Samuel Wilson, Jr. and the Louisiana Office of State Parks. The fort was completed in 1981. Building materials were obtained locally and many 18th-century building techniques were employed in the replication.”
To build the reconstructed fort and associated buildings, the workers used nearly 2,000 treated pine logs with approximately 250,000 board feet. All hinges and latches were handmade at a nearby foundry.
Now administrated by the Louisiana Office of State Parks, the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site sits at 155 Rue Jefferson in Natchitoches, a few hundred yards from where the original fort once existed on the Cane River. When settled, Natchitoches sat on the banks of the Red River. Since then, the river changed course, leaving behind a 30-mile-long section now called the Cane River.
Tours and demonstrations
The Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site offers many glimpses into 18th century life in colonial Louisiana. The fort includes a wooden chapel and other buildings. Besides touring the fort and seeing how French soldiers lived in the New World 300 years ago, people can view a 12-minute movie on the history of the site and see various artifacts in the museum.
“Some more interesting artifacts include 18th century child’s footprints,” French said. “We found some child’s footprints preserved in clay and dated 1756. They are in our museum. We also have an 18th century musket on display. Our staff does daily colonial demonstrations of skills used at the fort during that time, such as weaving, woodworking and leatherwork. Visitors can interact with staff members dressed in period costumes or enjoy a picnic at our nature kiosk along the Cane River.”
The site opens from Wednesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Site staff offer scheduled guided tours for school groups, churches, businesses and other organizations. The site also hosts living history re-enactments of what life in the fort was like in the 1750s.
For more information on the Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, call 318-357-3101 or 888-677-7853. On the internet, see www.lastateparks.com/historic-sites/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-site.
