Super 8 Motel - Vincennes

Spirit of Vincennes Rendezuous

by deecat

"Spirit of Vincennes Rendezuous this year was held the weekend after I was visiting Vincennes". It's held in late May. I was disappointed that I could not attend; however, I wanted information about it to let travelers know about its location, date, and activities.

This year was the 32nd annual aniversary of "Spirit of Vincennes Rendevuous" which relives battlefield activities using units of soldiers from the North West Territory Alliance. You will also be able to enjoy the Tippecanoe Ancient Fife & Drum Corps.

There are also participatory games such as Skillet Throw, Cannonball Throw, and Truth or Consequences History Challenge.

Of course, you are able to stroll through the encampment and interact with members of the North West Territory Alliance. There's also an 18th Century Fashion Show, a parade of uniforms, and a color ceremony.

There are over 100 booths that demonstrate early frontier skills and sell period wares. Some of these are: Leather work, Pottery Wheel, Silver Smith, Weaving, Candle Dipping, Wooden Toys, Guns, tinsmith, Herbs, Spinning, Baskets, Shoes, Chair Caning, etc. One of the best activities of this even, in my opinion, is the Food and Drink. There are over 20 food booths such as French cookies, Creek fried potatoes, turkey legs, corn on the cob, pork chops, buffalo burgers.and for dessert they offer homemade pies, strawberry shortcake. Try a glass of iced cold tea or fresh lemonade.

In addition, for the kids, they have children's games, bead jewelry booth, Madame Godare's Period Clothing Try-on.

There's a Photo Contest and a Colonial Ball. On Sunday, they have Non-denominational worship service and period music.

This is all located on the French Commons [Next to the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park] in downtown Vincennes. They have 15+ acres for parking.

In addition, at the Old Cathedral, there is a "Candlelight Tour on Friday night.

Grouseland also hosts a Candlelight Tour on Saturday.

Old French House, Indiana Territory Capitol & Elihu Stout Print Shop host a Candlelight Tour on Saturday.

Fortunately , there are shuttles that transport visitors from the Rendezvous to the State Historic Sites.

Sonotabac Prehistoric Indian Mound

by sambarnett

On the northeast side of town, along Wabash Avenue stands an important religious site for the Hopewell people who populated the area starting around 300 BCE. "Sonotabac" was the son of a local Indian chief who aided George Rogers Clark in the campaign against the British at Fort Sackville in 1779.

Vincennes University

by deecat

Be sure to see all four of the photographs of Vincennes University

Vincennes University was founded in 1801 and was Indiana's first college Also, it's the only college in the USA that was founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States, William Henry Harrison. He founded the university while he was Governor of Indiana.

Today, the university is a state-supported college with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport! VU serves students from all 92 counties in Indiana; 28 of America's states, and 37 foreign countries.

Vincennes University has 130-acre Campus located along the Wabash River. It has modern academic and recreational facilites; it has six residence halls; and its curriculum is comprehensive and quite modern.

Dripping With History

by deecat

"Indiana's Oldest City"

Visiting Vincennes, Indiana, was the perfect fit for me. I just love history, architecture, American Indians, and Midwestern friendliness. Vincennes "fits the bill"!

So, if you are like I am, and you want to visit a place where Indiana had its beginning; where the Indian Chief, Tecumseh, walked; where the ninth president of the United States lived and worked; where the battle of Tippecanoe was prepared for; where the first free press in Indiana was born; where the first library in Indiana became a reality; where the first University was established; where an American hero saved a fort which, in turn, created the Northwest Territory [and made Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and parts of Minnesotab possible], then you should, by all means, visit this historic city on the Wabash River, VINCENNES, INDIANA.

Vincennes's beginnings were quite humble. It was a French fur trading outpost in 1732. It was one of many forts in the area that was an attempt to stop British expansion. And it was George Rogers Clark and his small army of "sharpshooters" who took the largest land conquest in the Revolutionary War away from the British in 1779. By 1800, the Indiana Territory was formed, and Vincennes became its capitol.

Today, you can visit Vinceness to see, hear, and experience all this history, and you will leave here realizing that you've just seen how a humble fur trading outpost became so important to America's history.

"Sorce of Name: Vincennes"

Vincennes, Indiana, was named in honor of French Canadian, Francois-Marie Bissot, Sieur de Vincennes (1700-1737)

He built a fort here to protect the claims of France in the New World [1732].

He was burned at the stake by Chickasaw Indians near the present town of Fulton, Tennessee.