401 S Second St, Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: 812-882-1776
Fax: 812-882-7270
Open All Year
Overview. One of George Rogers Clark's more well-known victories against the British during the Revolutionary War took place here at the former site of Fort Sackville. As historical accounts indicate, Clark and his 175 men fooled British forces into thinking they were outnumbered by shooting off extra rounds of ammunition and making a lot of noise. The Americans won the battle and the British retreated and eventually ceded territory that encompassed most of the modern-day Midwest. Clark's other victories against the British were won in territories extending from Ohio to Illinois. His campaign proved to be a decisive one during the American Revolution. George Rogers Clark is not the only member of his family to go down in history. His brother William Clark, together with partner Meriwether Lewis, led the Lewis and Clark expedition team that mapped out territory in the Northwest and along the Pacific Ocean. The granite, marble, and limestone memorial to George Rogers Clark is the focal point of the 26-acre park. Inside, massive murals depict his military activities. Beautifully landscaped gardens provide a pastrol setting for the memorial. What to see and do. Start your tour at the visitor center, which offers interpretive exhibits and a film about Clark's capture of Fort Sackville. You can take a self-guided tour of the site. Staff members are on hand to answer questions. During the summer months, weapon demonstrations and living history presentations are offered. On Memorial Day weekend each year, volunteers dressed in period costume re-create trapper and trader exchanges during the Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous. The park is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. It closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, and is subject to unscheduled closings in severe winter weather. Take US 50 to the 6th Street exit, or US 41 to the exit at Willow Street. Fees: A nominal entrance fee is charged for those aged 17 and older.
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