Goofy and I traveled 63 miles from Wham in Carbondale to
Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis Illinois.
In the background of the picture, you can see the forts that
are replicas of the original forts built in Metropolis during 1757. For Massac was but by the French to block the
British expansion during the French and Indian war. It was named in honor of Marquis Massiac, a
French naval officer that built the original fort. Prior to being taken by the
French, the Native Americans lived in that area. In 1778, on the way back from
Kaskaskia, General George Clark's troops found the forts, abandoned at that time
from the French due to previous battles, and claimed them. They were rebuilt in 1794 to guard the lower
Ohio River. Every year, to teach about
the rich history of Fort Massac, Metropolis holds an encampment. This is where actors take the roles of the Native
Americans, French, British, and other colonist citizens and display the culture
of these people from that time period.
For the last three years, I have dressed up and played a part of being a
French lady, as my friend that goes always acts for the French. I was not dressed up in this picture, but the
outfits we must wear and any item we have has to be replicated to depict that
time period accurately. There is a mock
battle between the three troops each year and many foods and items that are
created and sold. At night, when the
visitors leave, the actors get to camp in tents, also replicated from that time
frame, and take a canoe trip down the Ohio River. They also have a dance of folk dances from
that time period and a huge feast. At
the feast, each troop brings forth food from their culture and everyone
shares. It is a very neat experience!
