The Midwest’s largest gathering of 1700s era soldiers, settlers, traders and campers, the 43nd Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres, will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2 at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site near Prairie du Rocher. The event is free and open to the public, and the parking fee has been reduced to $5 per car this year.

Rendezvous features 1700s military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, black powder shooting events, cannon firings and more from the time when France controlled what is now the State of Illinois. Many activities feature public participation. The event is cosponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Les Coureur de Bois de Fort de Chartres, and Save Illinois History.

Each day’s activities begin with the Opening Ceremony and Posting of Colours at 10 a.m. The Retreat Ceremony ends each day’s activities at 4:30 p.m. An 18th century military tactical demonstration (mock battle) takes place at 2:15 p.m. each day, and the French Marines of Fort de Chartres will drill at 11 a.m. both days. Mass will be held Sunday, June 3 at 8 a.m. at stage # 1, and a Protestant service, also at 8 a.m., at stage # 2. A dance for all participants and visitors featuring period music and dancing will be held Saturday, June 1 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the fort.

The re-creation of a trial held exactly 287 years ago that weekend will be presented at 1 p.m. both days at stage # 1. The soldiers and ladies of the Fort de Chartres French Marines will present a “Law and Order of the 18th Century” vignette of a slander trial that took place June 4, 1725 between Marie Medand and Blanche, the wife of a French Marine drummer.

The big guns come out at Rendezvous. The fort’s 6-pound cannon will be fired hourly both days, preceded by an instruction in the art of cannon firing by the French Colonial Artillerie. La Grande Cannon Fusillade (The Big Cannon Shootout) will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. It’s loud, it’s fun, and it’s fascinating to watch the state of the art in military technology from the mid 1700s.

Rendezvous is famous for its period shooting and military competitions. Saturday and Sunday will feature rifle aggregate and smoothbore competition from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Primitive Archery shoot will be held from 10 a.m. to noon both days. Knife and hawk throwing competition will be held both days from noon to 2:30 p.m., and visitors can try their hand at throwing a hawk.

The models will take to the historic runway at 3:30 each day as the 18th Century Fashion Show hosted by Ted Mueller returns to stage # 1. Clothing worn by both men and women from all walks of life in the 1700s will be modeled.

Scores of period artisan and craft demonstrations will include pottery, blacksmithing, silversmithing, coopering, pewter casting, felt making, silk ribbon embroidery, weaving, woodworking, basketry, treenware making, silhouette cutting, and cordwaining. Many items will be for sale.

Period music and dance will be offered both days. Entertainers include Great River Fife and Drum Corps; Prairie du Rocher La Guiannee Society with the String Connection; Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps; The Peacocks Band; Booneslick Strings; Traveler’s Dream; and the 42nd Royal Highlanders Band of Pipes, Fifes & Drums. Dr. Theophratus von Gerlach will present “The Future of 18th Century Medicine” each day at noon.

Eighteenth Century swordplay will be demonstrated by Robert Bruce Sikes of the Black Knights Fight Group of St. Louis. His periodic demonstrations of fencing both days of Rendezvous will include the history of swordplay, fencing techniques, and a sword display table.

Working oxen demonstrations will take place periodically just east of the fort. The River Gate Food Court will feature a variety of period food, drink and musical entertainment under a large tent.

Those who utilize the special event parking area near Fort de Chartres will be charged $5 per car (reduced from $7 last year) and $10 per bus. There will be no modern camping facilities.

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site is located four miles west of Prairie du Rocher and 37 miles south of Belleville. Take Route 3 to Route 155 and follow the signs. For more information call 618/284-7230, email ftdchart@htc.net, or visit www.ftdechartres.com on the web.

The Fifteenth Annual Conference on Illinois History has been slated for September 26-27 at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield.

The “Champagne British Car Festival Weekend” (May 31-June 2) culminates with a public display of antique and contemporary British automobiles on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site on Sunday, June 2.

The annual event is organized by the Illinois Flat Landers British Car Owners Club, and approximately 150 cars are expected with Triumph being the 2013 featured marque. Other manufacturers will include MG, Lotus, Jaguar, Sunbeam, Austin-Healey and many others.

For more event information, visit www.cbcf-bloomington.com or contact event chair Dave Hauman at 309/838-4707 or hauman48@aol.com.

The Old State Capitol will morph into a Civil War field hospital injected with a healthy dose of fun and music as the annual Civil War Medical Encampment returns Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9.

Before the encampment begins in earnest, Dr. Guy Hasegawa will speak Wednesday, June 5, at 5 p.m. about artificial limbs available to wounded soldiers during the war. He is the author of Mending Broken Soldiers: The Union and Confederate Programs to Supply Artificial Limbs.

The encampment includes a day of hands-on activities for children, a display of medical equipment on Friday, Civil War songs around the campfire, a visit from Abraham Lincoln, concerts and more.

The event, which kicks off a summer schedule of “History Comes Alive” programming in downtown Springfield, also will highlight the role of the Ladies Soldiers’ Aid Society and Illinois’ mobilization effort.

During the Civil War years, the Springfield Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society often used the Illinois capitol as a base of operations. The society was formed in August 1861 to gather food, clothing and other supplies for Illinois soldiers, especially the sick and wounded. The building served as a collection point for donations of food, clothing and other necessities.

The capitol also housed the office of the Adjutant General, who was responsible for organizing the state’s effort to raise troops. Illinois would eventually send 250,000 troops to the front. During the encampment there will be mustering events and attempts to recruit people to serve in Mr. Lincoln’s army.

Click here to see the complete schedule of events. The Old State Capitol is located at the corner of 6th and Adams Sts in downtown Springfield.

Knowledgeable docents will walk visitors back in time as they stroll the streets for this unique community, while telling the story of the town's beginnings, its history and the restoration work being done today. Tour includes admission to the Visitor Center, exhibits, 20-minute introductory video and guided walking tour.
$7 adults/ $5 seniors/ $5 students.

Please call our House Tour Information Line at the Historic Pullman Visitor Center for questions at 773/785-8901.

Pullman State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is located at 11057 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago. Free parking is available. Transportation: Metra Electric Trains to 111th or 115th Streets from Millenium Station; or I-94 to I-57 and exit at 111th Street (exit 66A), and travel west on 111th to Cottage Grove.

The Raptor Awareness Show will be held at 2 p.m. in the Interpretive Center auditorium. No admittance after the show begins. Representatives from the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis will bring live birds of prey, such as owls, a hawk, falcon, buzzard, and possibly an eagle, and discuss the differences and similarities of the different species. The highlight of the show will be when birds are released to fly over the heads of the audience.

Starts at 2 pm no admittance after the show begins. Free.

Cahokia Mounds, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis in Collinsville, Illinois off Interstates 55-70 (Exit 6) and I-255 (Exit 24) on Collinsville Road. There is no admission fee but a donation is suggested. For more information or a calendar of events, call 618/346-5160 or visit www.cahokiamounds.org.