Marin’s La Baye de la Marines Encampment

Welcome to the Marin’s French de la Marine garrison event at the old French Fort La Baye. This two day immersive event will take you back in time (1730-1740s) when the  French fur trade was burgeoning in this remote region of the Pays d’en Haut. In 1684, the French built a fort at the mouth of the bay along the Fox River. This was to help secure safe trading for the french fur traders with the local Native Americans. You will be in the midst of French fur traders, voyageurs and Marin’s French Marines eking out their existence in the wilds of this outlying and sparsely populated part of New France.

Paul Marin de la Malgue and his troops were garrisoned at La Baye under the command of Sieur de Villiers. By 1730, the Fox Indians began losing their alliance with the Mascoutin and Kickapapoo, and even the Saux allied with the French at La Baye. Paul Marin first became significant in history when in 1728 he became the leading officer in the war against the Fox Indians in Wisconsin.

In 1729, he opened a trading post among the peaceful Menominee Indians near Fort La Baye. He employed a mixed force of Indians, voyageurs and soldiers to suppress the Fox Indians. For decades, the tribe had stationed warriors at strategic points on the Fox River and demanded tolls or bribes of every canoe that passed, harassing anyone who refused to pay.

After many skirmishes, he ultimately drove the Foxes to the Mississippi River, eventually ending their existence in Wisconsin by pacifying them, although it took ten years to do it. He enjoyed an excellent reputation both with the Indians and most Frenchmen and for twenty years was the dominant French figure in the West. In 1746, Marin was sent to lead French troops against the British in New York. He was promoted to captain and appointed to the command at Fort La Baye (now Green Bay). He also employed up to 190 voyageurs annually. His trading and military activities reinforced one another, and Marin grew quite wealthy.

• Saturday, Aug 16, 9:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M.
• Sunday, Aug 17, 12:00 P.M to 4:00 P.M

General admission applies and may be purchased the day of, reminder members are free!