According to Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Vincennes was founded in 1732 in a part of the Midwest that belonged to France, Vincennes is Indiana’s oldest city. Over time, ownership of this town and area changed hands from France to Great Britain, and ultimately America following the Revolutionary War of 1776.

In 1800, Congress created the Indiana Territory and named Vincennes its capital. The new territory was much larger than the State of Indiana today, including what is now Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Here in Vincennes, Governor William Henry Harrison and others made important decisions that would influence the future of the entire Midwest.

There are a few sites that mark these historical events. Be sure to launch your tour at the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. They have an audio tour that will provide you with all of the information to set the tone for the rest of the tour. There are 4 sites that are within walking distance of each other and we recommend seeing them in this order: