Solve the cipher to get the cache coordinates.
Iwt rdcipxctg ndj httz rpc qt udjcs wxsstc pi cdgiw iwxgin txvwi stvgtth udgin cxct edxci htktc wjcsgts iwxgin htktc pcs lthi cxctin stvgtth iwxgittc edxci udjg wjcsgts htktcin ild.
The first United States military installation in Louisiana Territory, Cantonment Belle Fontaine, was a frontier military post located on the south bank of the Missouri River near its confluence with the Mississippi River. The Fort took its name from a nearby spring named "Belle Fontaine" which means "beautiful fountain" in French.
The original fort was built on the low south bank of the Missouri River at the mouth of Coldwater Creek, then called La Petite Riviere or St. Ferdinand River.
After the Louisiana Purchase, a fur trading post was established in November 1804. This "Indian Factory" was made possible by a treaty between the United States Government, signed by William H. Harrison and representatives of the Native American Sac and Fox tribes.
As the only military post in the new Louisiana Territory, Fort Belle Fontaine served as a jumping off point for many explorers and expeditions into the new territory including the Lewis and Clark expedition and two of Zebulon Pike's expeditions.
Building the post on the low bank proved to be a mistake and by 1809 the post was in bad shape and the garrison was plagued by disease. Lt. Colonel Daniel Bissell assumed command in 1809 and began moving the post to the bluff above the bank. Today, the original fort's site would be located in the middle of the river.
The trading post was discontinued after 1808, and from 1809 to 1826 the facility served as a United States military fort. During that time period, from about 1809 to 1815, the fort served as the headquarters of the Department of Louisiana, and was the regional Army headquarters during the War of 1812.
By 1825, the Fort's wooden buildings were crumbling, and it was decided to abandon Fort Belle Fontaine. In 1826, the troops stationed at Fort Bellefontaine were relocated to Jefferson Barracks, the new military post south of St. Louis. A contingent of soldiers remained at the fort to protect the aging arsenal facility. Fort Belle Fontaine continued to supply munitions for the troops at Jefferson Barracks until a new arsenal in St. Louis was completed in 1828 after which Fort Belle Fontaine was permanently abandoned.
Park hours are 8 a.m. to one half hour past official sunset. The park shares property with a state facility, so there is a guard gate at the entrance of the property. Sign in as a park visitor.
IF ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OR DAMAGE IS NOTICED IN A ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARK, PLEASE CALL 314-615-8911 AND REPORT IT.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTICE: Please be respectful of the posted park hours. If you enter the park after hours you are trespassing. If you are stopped you can be ticketed or arrested and will put the future of geocaching in the parks in jeopardy. |
|
|
|
|
Special permission to hide caches in St. Louis County parks is NOT needed as long as the Groundspeak rules are followed. "Blanket Permission" has been worked out in advance with the park service. DO NOT CALL THE PARK as they cannot handle the calls. The Groundspeak cache reviewer does need to know exactly how and where the caches are hidden and what type of containers are used. The geocaching liaisons will notify the park service of new caches. Remember NO AMMO BOXES or PVC PIPE caches. |
|
|