George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is located in Southwestern Indiana in the town of Vincennes. The park honors a pivotal event in the American Revolution.
American Colonel George Rogers Clark fought with success against the British and their Indian allies capturing forts along the Mississippi River near St. Louis.
Clark led 170 American and French militiamen to Vincennes to surround Fort Sackville after the British recaptured it in December 1778.
Clark and his men surrounded Fort Sackville and forced the British to surrender in February 1779. Clark is credited with preventing the British from achieving their goal of driving Americans from the new frontier.
This win helped push the British to sign over vast areas of the United States that now compromise the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and the eastern part of Minnesota.
George Rogers Clark was the brother of William Clark who would co-lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Contents
Top things to do at George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Visitor Center
The visitor center has a few interpretive displays and a bookstore. The front desk staff was great at answering questions and telling us more about the park.
Restrooms, changing stations, drinking fountains, and bookstore are available at the Visitor Center.
Long Knives Movie
The 30-minute introductory movie, “Long Knives” which shares the back story of George Rogers Clark and his military campaign.
George Rogers Clark Memorial
You can’t miss the George Rogers Clark Memorial when you drive towards the Wabash River.
The memorial is 80 feet high and 90 feet across at the base. The walls are two feet thick with the exterior composed of granite.
There are 16 Doric columns surrounding the memorial. Above the columns is an inscription which reads “The Conquest of the West – George Rogers Clark and The Frontiersmen of the American Revolution”.
Make sure and listen to the six-minute audio program is provided in the Clark Memorial. This program will guide you through the seven murals and the story they represent.
The seven murals were each created on a single piece of Belgium Linen that was 16 feet by 28 feet.
Painted by Ezra Winter over 2.5 years.
You can see three of George Rogers Clarks quotes inscribed in the memorial.
The Clark Memorial has 33 steps to reach the front door with a handrail going up the center of the building.
Become a George Rogers Clark NHP Junior Ranger
The George Rogers Clark NHP Junior Ranger program is a 2-page questionnaire that can be filled out while visiting the visitor center and the memorial.
You can also download the form here and bring it with you when you visit.
Fort Sackville
Historians believe that George Rogers Clark NHP is located on the site where Fort Sackville stood.
Things to know when planning a visit to George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Address: George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
401 South 2nd Street
Vincennes, IN 47591
Phone: 812.882.1776, ext. 2 (front desk)
800.886.6443
Hours: Open daily 9:00am – 5:00pm.
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is located in the Eastern Time Zone.
The memorial closes 15 minutes before the visitor center.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and other federal holidays.
Entrance Fee: $0.00 There is no fee to visit this National Park Site
Parking: Parking is available down the road from the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park Visitor Center at 401 S. 2nd St.
A limited amount of parking can be found in front of the visitor center.
Food/Drink: No food or drink is permitted in the visitor center or the George Rogers Clark Memorial.
Pets: Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than six feet in length.
National Park Sites near George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Pullman National Monument
Indiana Dunes National Park
Check out all of the National Parks in Indiana and neighboring Ohio National Parks and Illinois National Parks.
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