The Grand Village of the Illinois Indians

Mark Walczynski will present “The Grand Village of the Illinois Indians.” A large Illinois Indian village located along the north bank of the Illinois River, about a mile upstream from Starved Rock, this is one of the most important Native American village sites in today’s Illinois and the Midwest. This program looks at the people who lived at the village and details some of the most important historical events that occurred at the site.

Mark is a published author, researcher, and educator who specializes in the Franco-Native American history of the Starved Rock area, and the Illinois Country and western Great Lakes region during the seventeenth century. He is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; has taught history, philosophy, and criminal justice courses at Illinois Valley Community College; and is an affiliate with the Illinois Archaeological Survey. He is also currently Starved Rock State Park Historian.