This historical marker is located at a small parking lot that serves as the trailhead for Sand Point Trail at Frontenac State Park. Fort Beauharnois was built in 1727 right on the shore of Lake Pepin and then, in 1730, was moved to higher ground near the marker. The fort was named after the Governor of New France at the time, Charles de Beauharnois. This was also the site of the first Roman Catholic chapel in what is now Minnesota.