Bound to the Western Waters: Searching for Lewis and Clark at Fort Kaskaskia, Illinois.

February 2021 D We Proceeded On 23 The small American military outpost of Fort Kaskaskia (18031807), Illinois (Figure 1-2), played a pivotal role in the early days of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The remains of the Lewis and Clark-era Fort Kaskaskia (Illinois Archaeological Survey [IAS] site 11R612) as well as that of an earlier French fort (IAS site 11R326) of the same name are today contained within the Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site in southwestern Illinois (Sidebars 1-3). And indeed, an interpretive sign erected within the center of the French Fort Kaskaskia during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial that features Michael Haynes' painting of Lewis and Clark's meeting with Captain Russell Bissell, then commander of the American Fort Kaskaskia, assures visitors that this was the case. [Extracted from the article]