Fort Jesup State Historic Site
Fort Jesup State Historic Site depicts a pivotal era of U.S. military history from the 1820s to the 1840s, a time when a young nation struggled to define itself amid the growing pains of territorial expansion and frontier hardships. When the Louisiana Purchase treaty of 1803 failed to clarify the western boundary of Louisiana, a dispute erupted between the United States, which claimed eastern Texas, and Spain, which claimed western Louisiana. This conflict gave rise to the Neutral Ground, a strip of disputed territory where the laws of neither nation were enforced. Rogues and outlaws ruled the region for nearly twenty years, until the U.S. and Spain were finally able to resolve the dispute in 1819 by establishing the boundary at the Sabine River. The United States government built Fort Jesup in 1822 to guard what was then the westernmost boundary of the nation. Fort Jesup remained an important military outpost for nearly 25 years before it was abandoned in 1846. Today, Fort Jesup is a 22-acre site that provides a unique glimpse of life when Louisiana was still part of the nations frontier. The only remaining historic structure is the kitchen. The sites primary interpretive area is the reconstructed officers quarters, which houses exhibits, a gift shop, and visitor services. The rest of the site has been preserved for current and future archaeological studies.
Opened 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Guided tours are offered daily. Charged $2 per person for entrance fees, free for seniors (62 and over) and for children age 12 and under. Groups are asked to call in advance.
