[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              FORT MASSAC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 2009

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the unveiling of a 
commemorative mural at Fort Massac in Massac County, Illinois.
  Fort Massac was built on the bank of the Ohio River in 1757 by the 
French during the French and Indian War. In 1794, during the Northwest 
Indian War, President George Washington ordered the fort be rebuilt. 
For the next 20 years Fort Massac protected U.S. military and 
commercial interests in the Ohio Valley.
  In the fall of 1803, the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped and 
recruited two volunteers at Fort Massac as they journeyed west. The 
Fort Massac site was designated a State Park in 1908, becoming the 
first Illinois State Park.
  Every October, the Fort Massac Encampment draws 80,000 visitors to 
re-create the lifestyles and atmosphere of the late 1700s. As a part of 
this year's celebration on October 17th and 18th, the Fort Massac 
Museum is unveiling a mural depicting a restored cabin from the early 
1800s. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the 
celebration to take part in the mural unveiling.
  I want to congratulate the volunteers, supporters, and everyone else 
who helped make this mural and museum such a great success. I wish them 
my best as they open this new exhibit to offer a glimpse into the 
fascinating history of the United States and Illinois.

                          ____________________