Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay announced last week that the National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded a $400,000 grant to the Missouri Historical Society to help produce a groundbreaking new exhibit entitled, “The American Revolution on the Frontier.”
“I was very pleased to support this NEH grant that will help fund an exceptional historical exhibit highlighting the Battle of Fort San Carlos, the western-most battle of the American Revolution, and St. Louis’ key strategic role in maintaining control of the Mississippi River during the fight to win our nation’s freedom,” said Clay. “The Missouri Historical Society is an invaluable cultural institution that I am proud to represent in Washington. I am looking forward to the debut of this very important project in the spring of 2014.”
According to the National Park Service, on May 26, 1780, between 1,300 and 2,000 British-led Sioux, Sac, Fox and Winnebago Indian warriors assaulted the unsuspecting French community of St. Louis, which then had a population of 900 people. The attack was repulsed, denying British forces control of the Mississippi River. The battle site was near where the Old Court House stands today in downtown St. Louis.