Louis Jolliet, Fr. Jacques Marquette and Fellow “Voyageurs”

On May 17th of this year, we celebrated the 350th anniversary of Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette’s landmark expedition of discovery from the year 1673. The “discovery” that laid the groundwork for the settlement of the interior of the Colonial American Continent.From the Western side of the Appalachian Mountains to as far west of the Mississippi river as colonists would dare. From the Hudson Bay in the North, all the way South to the Gulf of Mexico. All for Louis, The XIV, The King of France in 1673.

On August 12, Louis Jolliet, Fr. Jacques Marquette and fellow “voyageurs” will be at the I&M Canal. They will paddle their voyager canoes, tell of their travels, sing their native songs and demonstrate how they survive in the Illinois territory environment. Come and talk to them and ask about their 1673 trip to The Chicago Portage.