Kaskaskia was first settled by traders, Jesuit priests, and Indians. The village was founded on a triangle of land where the Kaskaskia River and the Mississippi River met. The Jesuit mission was built on the banks of the Kaskaskia River followed by the homes of the settlers clustered together for safety. The village was located on the edge of the farm land, which the villagers called "the big field." Land was measured in strips that ran from the riverbank to a fence separating the crops from the pasture land. Most villagers owned several strips of land in the big field. Across the river from the village, the men began to build a fort high upon the bluffs. In 1752 Kaskaskia had a population of 671 people.

17 What did Kaskaskia look like? [37k]

Father Watrin was the Jesuit priest in Kaskaskia from 1746 until 1764. Follow the events in the village by reading his Kaskaskia journal:

Journal entry 1 February 1, 1752

Journal entry 2 February 8, 1752

Journal entry 3 February 16, 1752

Teachers please look at the Lesson Plan before proceeding.

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© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96