Near Porter in Porter County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Le Petit Fort
Photographed by Christopher Light, April 4, 2008
1. Le Petit Fort Marker
Erected 1957 by Indiana Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 5, 1780.
Location. 41° 39.645′ N, 87° 3.748′ W. Marker is near Porter, Indiana, in Porter County. It is on County Road N 25 E north of Dunes Highway (U.S. 12), on the right when traveling north. This marker is located at the entrance to the main parking lot inside the Indiana Dunes State Park. In the summer, there is a fee to enter the park and parking in this lot may be full on weekends during the summer. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chesterton IN 46304, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana and specifically on the Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan Shore. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daylighting: Getting Dunes Creek Out of the Pipe (a few steps from this marker); The Wreck of the J.D. Marshall (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Squall Causes Lake Disaster"
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. The J.D. Marshall (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Also see . . . Petit Fort. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 18, 2008.)
Additional commentary.
1. Name of the Commander of British Forces
The Commander of British forces mentioned on the marker is Dagneau de Quindre, not Dahreau de Quindre. He was a son of Louis-Cesaire Dagneau de Quindre, also of the Detroit area. As for first name, it might be Pierre Louis (1740-1799) since he died in Indiana at Vincennes and was in the area at the time. (See p. 183 of "Histoire des Canadiens du Michigan et du Compte d'Essex, Ontario", by Theophile
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 14, 2019
2. Le Petit Fort Marker
Marker in its new location, moved a few feet north of original site.
Editor's note: Additional sources also point to his name as Guillaume-Franηois Dagneau de Quindre de La Picanier.
— Submitted January 18, 2024, by Cecilia Mikalac of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Photographed by Christopher Light, April 4, 2008
3. Vicinity of the Marker
Photographed by Christopher Light, April 4, 2008
4. State Park Bathhouse in the background
The fort was thought to be just above the marker, overlooking Dunes Creek, which flows under the parking lot towards the bathhouse, entering the lake to the right (east side) of the bathhouse.
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 14, 2019
5. Symbol on the Le Petit Fort Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2008, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 4,219 times since then and 191 times this year. Last updated on September 21, 2022, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. Photos: 1. submitted on May 16, 2008, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 2. submitted on December 2, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on May 16, 2008, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 5. submitted on December 2, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
