American Forts: East

WISCONSIN

Fort Edward Augustus | Aztalan | Fort Barbour | Camp Barstow | Fort de la Baye des Puants
Fort Blue | Blue Mounds Fort | Blue River Fort | Fort Bonaparte | Camp Bragg
M. Brisbois House | Cadotte's Post | Fort Cass | Cassville Fort | Fort Chagouamigon (1)
Chagouamigon Post (2) | Chetek Post | Fort Clark | Corot's Post | Fort Crawford (1)
Fort Crawford (2) | Fort Defiance | Fort DeSeelhorst | Fort Dodge | Camp Douglas State Res.
DuBay's Post (1)(2) | Ebersol's Fort | Eversoll's Fort | Forts Folle Avoine
Fond du Lac Posts (1) | Fond du Lac Post (2) | Funk's Fort | Fort Gratiot | A. Grignon's Post
C. Grignon's Post (1) | C. Grignon's Post (2) | P. Grignon's Post | Grignon - Porlier Post
Camp Hamilton | Fort Hamilton | Camp Harvey (1) | Camp Harvey (2) | Helena Shot Tower
Henry's Post | Hollingsworth's Fort | Camp Holton | Fort Howard | Fort Independence
Fort Jackson | G. Jones' Blockhouse | Juneau's Post | Kindle's Fort | Fort Koshkonong
LaBorde's Post | LaFramboise's Post | Langlade's Post | Fort La Pointe (1) | Fort La Pointe (2)
LaSalle's Fort (2) | LaSalle's Post (1) | J. Lawe's Posts | Linctot's Post | Malhiot's Post
Fort Marin | Camp McCoy | Fort McCoy | Fort McKay | Camp McKown | Montra's Post
Fort Napoleon | Fort at New Diggings | Octagon House | Parish's Fort | J. Perrault's Post (1)
J. Perrault's Post (2) | N. Perrot's Post | Pig's Eye Fort | Platteville Blockhouse | J. Powell's Post
P. Powell's Post | W. Powell's Post | Prairie du Chien Post | Price's Fort | Camp Randall
Camp Reno | Camp Robinson | J. Rolette's Post (1) | J. Rolette's Post (2) | Roundtree's Fort
Rowan - St. Cyr Trade Post | Fort St. Antoine | Fort St. Croix | Fort St. Esprit
St. Feriole Island Posts | Fort St. Francis | Fort St. François | Fort St. Louis | Fort St. Nicolas
Fort St. Pierre | St. François Xavier Mission | Camp Scott | Fort Shelby | Shull's Fort
Camp Sigel | Camp Smith | Snake Hollow Blockhouse | Sparta Ordnance Depot
Spring Green Shot Tower | Superior Stockade | Camp Swanson | Thibault's Post
Camp Treadway | Fort Trempealeau | Trempealeau Post | Camp Trowbridge | Fort Union
Camp Upton | Camp Utley | Fort Vaudreuil | J. Vieau's Post (1) | J. Vieau's Post (2)
J. Vieau's Post (3) | J. Vieau's Post (4) | J. Vieau's Post (5) | Vieau's Post (6) | Fort Wales Rock
Camp Washburn | White Heron Post | White Oak Fort | Camp Williams | Fort Winnebago
Wisconsin State Res. | Camp Wood | Yellow Lake Post

Last Update: 29/DECEMBER/2024
Compiled by Pete Payette - ©2024 American Forts Network

La Salle's Post (1)
(1679), Washington Island
A French post built by René-Robert Cavalier de LaSalle, located on the northern or eastern end of the island.

Fort St. François
(1684 - 1728, 1732 - 1760, 1761 - 1763), Green Bay
Originally known as French Fort de la Baye des Puants, a frontier outpost and trading post built by Nicolas Perrot. The fort was rebuilt and renamed in 1717. Also spelled St. Francis. It was destroyed by Indians in 1728, and was not rebuilt for five years. It was abandoned in 1760. In 1761 it became British Fort Edward Augustus but was abandoned during the Pontiac Uprising of 1763. The original site is on the west side of the Fox River at the foot of the Dousman Street Bridge, marked by a flagpole. (Hisoric Plaque Photo) A circa 1800 French-style log cabin is on display at Heritage Hill Park to interpret the fur trade era.

A fortified French Jesuit mission (St. François Xavier) was first established near here in 1671, at the "Rapides des Pères" (present-day De Pere), destroyed in 1687 by the Iroquois.

Langlade's Post
(1745 - 1751/1760 ?, 1764 - 1776), Green Bay
A French fur trade post co-founded by Augustin de Langlade and his son, Charles Michel (Charles was sixteen years old at the time). In 1752 Charles became involved with French military operations during the French and Indian War. Augustin probably continued operating the trade post until the French military evacuated the area in 1760. Charles returned and permanently settled his family here at Green Bay in 1764 during the British occupation, and became a captain in the British Indian Department during the American Revolution. Augustin Langlade died here in 1771. Charles Langlade died here in 1801. Charles' daughter Louise Domitilde de Langlade married Pierre Grignon here in 1776.

Pierre Grignon's Post
(1764 - 1805), Green Bay
An independent British trade post. Grignon died here in 1795, and the post was continued by sons Augustin and Pierre, Jr., until Augustin relocated to the Fox River at present-day Kaukauna.

Fort Howard
(Heritage Hill State Historical Park)
(1816 - 1841, 1849 - 1852, 1861 - 1863), Green Bay FORT WIKI
A Federal stockade with four log blockhouses, built on the site of Fort St. Francis/Edward Augustus. The original site is on the west side of the Fox River at the foot of the Dousman Street Bridge, marked by a flagpole. The post was part of the Federal "Factory system" of Indian trading posts during 1816 - 1822, serving the Menominee and Chippewa and other local tribes. Camp Smith was established in 1820 here at the present site of Heritage Hill Park, due to a malaria outbreak. The fort was rebuilt with frame buildings beginning in 1831. Abandoned between 1841 to 1849 for the Second Seminole War in Florida. The post became a local mobilization center during the Civil War, but was then sold off in 1869. Two original buildings (1835 mess and 1834 hospital) were moved to Heritage Hill Park in 1975, and two 1982 reconstructions (a school and Officer's quarters) were built on site. Admisson fee.

John Lawe's Posts
(1792 - 1797, 1797 - 1815), Green Bay
A British trade post operated by the Ogilvie, Gillespie and Company of Mackinaw. Lawe then went to work for independent trader (and his uncle) Jacob Franks in 1797, and took over his post in 1813. During the War of 1812, Lawe was a lieutenant with the British Army in the Indian Department. Lawe died here in 1846.

Augustin Grignon's Post
(1805 - 1840 ?), Kaukauna
An independent British (Canadian) trade post located at the falls of the Fox River. Augustin became an American citizen in 1820. Augustin's son Charles took over the post in 1830, with Augustin and the rest of the family relocating south to Butte des Morts in 1840. The restored Charles Grignon Home (1837), built as the local fur trade was declining, is located at 1313 Augustine Street in Grignon Park (admission fee).

White Heron Inn and Trade Post
(1835), Appleton
An inn and trade post on the Fox River built by Hippolyte "Paul" Grignon in 1835, which also incorporated his family home into the structure. Hippolyte was the brother of Augustin. A 1984 stone monument is located in Lutz Park on South Lutz Drive.

Jacques Vieau's Post (5)
(1795), Kewaunee
A North West Co. trade post.

Jacques Vieau's Post (3)
(1795), Manitowoc Rapids
A North West Co. trade post.

Jacques Vieau's Post (4)
(1795), near Larrabee, Gibson Township, Manitowoc County
A North West Co. trade post. Vieau was known as "Jean Beau" or "Zhambo" to the Indians. A 1922 stone monument is located on private property on Jambo Creek Road.

Jacques Vieau's Post (2)
(1795), Sheboygan
A North West Co. trade post.

Camp Bragg (Memorial Park)
(1861 - 1862), Oshkosh
A Civil War training camp. Located at Hazel and Cleveland Streets.

Grignon - Porlier Post
(1818 - 1854), Butte des Morts
An independent British (Canadian) fur trade post operated by Augustin Grignon and Jacques Porlier. Grignon became an American citizen in 1820. Porlier died in 1839, and his son Louis may have taken over his father's position at the post. He was also married to Augustin's daughter Sophia in 1841. Augustin permanently relocated here from Kaukauna in 1840 with most of his family. The Grignon House (built 1840's) still stands (private property) on Washington Street. The town was platted in 1848. Augustin died here in 1860. Lake Butte des Morts was created in 1856 with the damming of the Fox River at Oshkosh.

William Powell's Post
(1839 - 1844), near Omro
A civilian trade post on the Fox River northeast of town. Bought out by Luke LaBorde in 1844.

William's father, Peter Powell, a British (Canadian) militia officer, earlier operated a trading post in the vicinity of Lake Butte des Morts soon after the War of 1812.

Luke LaBorde settled further south at the mouth of Waukau Creek in 1846 and operated another trade post (LaBorde's Post) with his brother-in-law Louis DeBeaupre at the former village of Delhi (platted in 1851) (near present-day Island Park). LaBorde died in 1868. The town died out and vanished after 1870.

Fond du Lac Posts (1)
(1785 - 1789, 1795 - 1800, 1801 - 1802, 1815 - 1825), Fond du Lac
An independent British trade post first built on the east bank of the Fond du Lac River at the forks, by French-Canadian fur trader Laurent Ducharme. A Spanish trader named Ace and his family next occupied the post in 1788, but he and his clerk were soon killed by the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) of the Rock River villages, his family having escaped back to Green Bay. The next trader was another Canadian named Chavodreuil, but he too was killed by Indians. The post then remained abandoned until 1795 when it was repaired and re-occupied by the independent trader Jacob Franks and his clerk Jacques Porlier from Green Bay. John Lawe and Louis Beaupré replaced them in 1797. In the winter of 1801 a new post was built by Augustin Grignon and Michael Brisbois, on the West Branch just below the first rapids of the big bend, just south of the Western Ave. bridge. They only spent two winters here. Jean-Joseph Rolette next opened a post in 1815 (location ?), which was later burned by the Winnebago in 1825. The town of Fond du Lac was not permanently settled until 1836.
(NOTE: not to be confused with Fond du Lac Post (2) on the St. Louis River at Superior/Duluth (MN) on Lake Superior)

Octagon House
(1856), Fond du Lac
Built in 1856 by Isaac Brown. Part of the house was supposedly first used as a blockhouse against Indians (so the story goes), or was built on the site of an earlier fort or trade post (perhaps Rolette's 1815 post ?) (see above). The manor house was supposedly used as a station on the Underground Railroad, also according to legend. Located at 276 Linden Street. Operated as a museum from 1975 - 2015. Now closed and is a private residence.

Camp Hamilton
(1861 - 1862), Fond du Lac
A Civil War training camp. Renamed Camp Wood in 1862.

James Powell's Post
(Powell Spring Conservancy)
(1833 - 1838), near Spring Grove
An American Fur Co. trade post located at Powell Spring, on Dakin Creek at the eastern end of (Big) Green Lake. Operated by Powell and Pierre Paquette. James was the cousin of William Powell. The post consisted of an 18x25-foot trader's cabin and a smaller blacksmith shop, both on the south bank of the creek. Powell moved west to Iowa (or died ?) in 1838 and the post was burned down. Powell Spring was acquired by the Green Lake Conservancy in 2021.

John Baptiste DuBay's Post (2)
(1795, 1834 - 1840), near Knowlton
A rumored trade post of John DuBay was said to be located south of town, now underneath Lake DuBay (created 1942) in Portage County. The presumed site was excavated in November 1941 but proved to be only the DuBay family homestead (probably built after 1840, burned down in 1886) and not a fur trading post. If there was an earlier trading post here, its site was never found before the impoundment of the lake. According to local tradition, DuBay's father, John Lewis DuBay, a Canadian trapper, spent the winter of 1795 in the same locale (DuBay's Post (1)).

Fort Winnebago
(1828 - 1845), Portage FORT WIKI
A Federal fort. Only the Surgeon's Quarters, restored in the 1940's, remain today. This was originally built in 1819 as a portage house by François LeRoi. The fort's stockade was not built until 1832 during the Black Hawk War. The fort was later abandoned, and was burned in 1856. Located at 1824 State Highway 33. Admission fee. Camp McKown (1840) was located adjacent to the fort. The extant Garrison School (1850 - 1960) is also located here.

John Baptiste DuBay operated the American Fur Company's trade post at Fort Winnebago from 1840 to 1857.

Of interest nearby is the restored Winnebago Indian Agency (1832), located at 1490 Agency House Road. Admission fee.

Rowan - St. Cyr Trade Post
(1832 - 1837), Middleton
A civilian trade post located at Lake Mendota. A small shanty originally built by Wallace Rowan, it was soon thereafter sold to Michel St. Cyr, who then improved and enlarged it. Site marked by a stone monument at "Trading Post Oak", located at 3119 Waconia Lane (private property), just west of Mendota County Park. The town was founded in 1848.

Camp Randall (Memorial Park)
(1861 - 1865, 1917), Madison
A Union training camp and Confederate POW camp. Later became the state fairgrounds until 1893 when acquired by the University of Wisconsin. The park was set up in 1911, the Memorial Arch built in 1912. Temporarily used as a National Guard training camp in 1917. Now the Camp Randall Sports Complex of the University of Wisconsin. Located between University Ave. and Monroe Street, from Randall Ave. to Breese Terrace.

Aztalan (State Park)
(900 - 1200), Lake Mills
A recreated palisaded Indian village of the Middle Mississippian Culture. Along the outer palisade were bastions or towers about every 80 feet. Enclosed were two temple mounds.

Fort Koshkonong
(1832), Fort Atkinson FORT WIKI
A stockade with four blockhouses located on the Rock River near Lake Koshkonong. Abandoned after the "Battle of Bad Axe", the last battle of the Black Hawk War (August 1832). Abraham Lincoln was mustered out of the Illinois militia here after his second term of enlistment expired . After 1836 the post was dismantled by area settlers for timber. Reconstructed in 1966 at Rock River Park on the north bank of the Rock River, just off of WI 106 on the west side of town. A memorial (1908) is at the original site on Milwaukee Ave. East near Roland Ave.. Settled in 1841, the town of Fort Atkinson was named after General Henry Atkinson, who built the original fort. There was no fort here by that name otherwise.

Alexander LaFramboise's Post
(1785 - 1790 ?), Milwaukee
An independent British trade post. Alexander's brother François later replaced him as the principal trader here, but was killed by the Ho-Chunk Indians on the Rock River.

Jacques Vieau's Post (1)
(1795 - 1812/18), Milwaukee
A North West Co. trade post (until 1812). This was Vieau's main post of the several he operated in the region, and also where he wintered each year. His log warehouse and home were located on a bluff on the south bank of the Menomonee River, at what is now Mitchell Park on South Layton Blvd. and West Pierce Street. A 1925 stone monument (and 1910 replica log cabin since demolished) is in the park, at the north end of the football field alongside West Bruce Street.

Solomon Juneau's Post
(1818 - 1834 ?), Milwaukee
An American Fur Co. trading post. Juneau was the son-in-law of Jacques Vieau. This may have been (at least initially) the same site as Jacques Vieau's Post (1). Juneau later built a new home (1824 ?) at East Wisconsin Ave. at North Water Street. Solomon was a cousin to Joseph Juneau, the founder of Juneau, Alaska.

Milwaukee Civil War Camps
(1861 - 1865), Milwaukee
Camp Holton (1861 - 1865), located along North Prospect Ave. Renamed Camp Reno in 1864. Sold at auction in 1866, only the guardhouse still exists, now a private house located on Albion Street.
Camp Scott (1861), located on Wisconsin Ave. west of 12th Street.
Camp Sigel (1861), located at Oakland and Farwell Aves..
Camp Trowbridge (1862), undetermined location.
Camp Washburn (1861 - 1865), located at the old Cold Spring Racetrack west of 27th Street.

Camp Harvey (2)
(1898), Greenfield
A Spanish-American War state guard muster-in and training camp at the state fairgrounds north of town, at South 81st Street and West Greenfield Ave.. Marker erected in 1992.

Vieau's Post (6)
(1832), Racine
A trade post. Operated by Jacques Vieau, or by (or with) one of his sons (unnamed, possibly Jacques Jr. or Louis). Jacques Vieau Sr. retired from the trade in 1835 and died in 1852 (at 95 years old) in Howard, near Green Bay. Louis Vieau relocated to Iowa in 1832 or 1833 with several other Potawatomi Indians and French métis, and eventually to Kansas (1846).

Camp Utley
(1861 - 1862), Racine
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Harvey (1)
(1861 - 1862), Kenosha
A Civil War training camp. Located at present-day Green Ridge Cemetery.

Camp Barstow
(1861 - 1862), Janesville
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Treadway
(1861), Janesville
A Civil War training camp.

Joseph Thibault's Post
(1824 - 1837), Beloit
An independent fur trading post. The town was permanently settled in 1837.

Blue Mounds Fort
(1832), Blue Mounds
A fortified mining settlement and local militia defense located one and one-half miles south of the Blue Mound. A log stockade covering less than one-quarter acre, with two corner blockhouses and a central cabin, which sheltered about 50 settlers.

Spring Green Shot Tower
(Tower Hill State Park)
(1831 - 1860), Spring Green
A 185-foot shaft carved into the sandstone bluff, with a reconstructed lead smelter house at the top. A 90-foot long tunnel connects to the collection pool at the bottom of the shaft. Also known as the Helena Shot Tower. It was operated by the Wisconsin Shot Company. One of six remaining historic shot towers in the country (the others are located in Dubuque, IA, Columbus, OH, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, and Wytheville, VA).

Fort Union
(1832), near Dodgeville
The territorial militia's area field headquarters during the Black Hawk War. A stockade surrounding the house of Col. Henry Dodge, the commander of the Iowa County Michigan Territorial Militia. Garrisoned by 26 men commanded by Capt. Francis Gehon. Marker located on County Road Y south of town, within Mineral Point Township.

Blue River Fort
(1832), Highland
A militia fort at James Jones' lead mine. Also known as Fort Blue. Garrisoned by 44 men of the Michigan Territorial Militia commaned by Jones.

Thomas Parish's Fort
(1832), Montfort
A settlers' two-story log blockhouse on a stone foundation, built during the Black Hawk War. The settlement was originally known as Wingville.

Fort Napoleon
(1832), Linden Township, Iowa County
A militia stockade built on John Terry's property at Diamond Grove during the Black Hawk War, about three miles northwest of Mineral Point. Also sometimes known as Fort Bonaparte. Terry commanded a militia company of 59 men here.

Fort Jackson
(1832), Mineral Point
A settlers' and miners' stockade during the Black Hawk War. Timber and logs gathered from all the houses and buildings in town (save three) were used to construct the stockade and two blockhouses, and several garrison houses inside the stockade, which was on a hill in the center of town. Also used as a militia supply depot. Garrisoned by 58 men of the Michigan Territorial Militia commaned by John Moore. After the war the town was rebuilt with the fort's timber and logs. Site marked at Commerce and Fountain Streets.

Fort Defiance
(1832), Willow Springs Township, Lafayette County
A settlers' and miners' 120 by 80 feet stockade with two blockhouses and two large barracks that sheltered settlers, built on the property of Daniel Parkinson near Otter Creek during the Black Hawk War. Garrisoned by 40 men commanded by R.C. Hoard. Site located about five miles southeast of Mineral Point. Stone monument erected in 1928. Marker erected in 1995 on WI Highway 23 at Irving Lane.

Fort Hamilton
(1832), Wiota
A local militia 40-foot square log stockade with two corner blockhouses and a central cabin, built during the Black Hawk War protecting Hamilton's lead mine and smelter located near the Pecatonica River. Built by William Stephen Hamilton, son of founding father Alexander Hamilton. Garrisoned by 54 men. A nearby farm was attacked by Black Hawk's warriors on June 14, 1832, killing five settlers. The fort was not directly attacked. Marker on WI Highway 78.

James Kindle's (Sr.) Fort
(1832), Kendall Township, Lafayette County
A local militia stockade during the Black Hawk War, located on Kindle's property.

Capt. Benjamin Funk's Fort
(1832), Monticello Township, Lafayette County
A militia fort built during the Black Hawk War. Garrisoned by 31 men commaned by Funk. The settlement was originally known as Wiley's Grove.

Fort Clark
(1832), White Oak
A 100-by-50-foot log stockade during the Black Hawk War, built by S.M. Journey, and commanded by Capt. Benjamin Clark of the Michigan Territorial Militia with 78 men. Also known as White Oak Fort.

Another unnamed 50-foot square stockade (1832) was located nearby.

Capt. Jesse Shull's Fort
(1827), Old Shullsburg
A 30-man local militia stockade during the Winnebago War.

Capt. Hollingsworth's Fort
(1827), near Old Shullsburg
An 80-man local militia stockade during the Winnebago War.

Fort Independence
(1832), Old Shullsburg
A local militia log stockade during the Black Hawk War, near John Coons' homestead. Garrisoned by 31 men commanded by Isaac Hamilton.

Fort Gratiot
(1827, 1832), Gratiot's Grove, Shullsburg Township, Lafayette County
A local militia stockade and blockhouse built during the Winnebago War, later strengthened during the Black Hawk War. Garrisoned in 1832 by 56 men commanded by Fortunatus Berry. This was located at Gratiot's Grove, a former village that was once located about two miles south of Shullsburg, and vanished by the 1890's. This was not located at the present-day Town of Gratiot to the east, which was settled later (the town post office was opened there in July 1834 by the same Fortunatus Berry). The brick Henry Gratiot House (1835) still stands, and is the last remaining structure of the former village, located on Teasdale Road (County Road U) at 20950 Rennick Road.

Charles Grignon's Post (2)
(1830's), Gratiot's Grove ? or Gratiot ?
An independent trade post, probably active in 1832 when Charles was said to have "participated" in the Black Hawk War.

Fort at New Diggings
(1832), New Diggings
A settlers' and miners' stockade during the Black Hawk War. Located on the farm of Abraham Looney. Garrisoned by 69 men of the Jo Daviess County militia of Illinois.

Christian Eversoll's Fort
(1832), Hazel Green
A local militia sod earthwork built around Eversoll's house during the Black Hawk War, commanded by Capt. Charles McCoy. Also spelled Ebersol in some sources.

George Jones' Blockhouse
(1832), Sinsinawa
A settlers' log blockhouse built on Sinsinawa Mound during the Black Hawk War. It sheltered the Jones family and slaves, hired men, and several of the neighbors. (NOTE: a massive buttressed stone structure located at the Dominican Sisters' Sinsinawa Mound Center, historically attributed as a Black Hawk War fortification, was most likely not built until 1844 at the earliest, according to research by the Old Lead Region Historical Society.)

Fort (Justus) DeSeelhorst
(1832), Elk Grove Township, Lafayette County
A settlers' and miners' one-acre log stockade with two blockhouses during the Black Hawk War. Commanded by Cornelius DeLong with 67 men.

John Roundtree's Fort
(1832), Platteville
A local militia 100-foot diameter circular stockade with one two-story blockhouse, built during the Black Hawk War. Also known as Fort Dodge. Garrisoned by 33 men commanded by Capt. John Oharra.

Platteville Blockhouse
(1827), near Platteville
An otherwise unnamed blockhouse was located on Blockhouse Creek about three miles south of town during the Winnebago War.

Snake Hollow Blockhouse
(1832 or 1833 ?), Potosi
A miners' blockhouse defense built during, or just after (?), the Black Hawk War.

Cassville Fort
(1832), Cassville
A temporary town fort during the Black Hawk War, a single log building surrounded by a log stockade. Also known as Fort Cass, or Price's Fort. Garrisoned by 28 men of the Michigan Territorial Militia commanded by C.M. Price. Site located at Lot #3 in Block #13.

Fort Vaudreuil
(1753 - 1754), near Bagley ?
A French stockaded fur trading post built by Joseph Marin, located on the Mississippi River about four French leagues below the mouth of the Wisconsin River. Possibly sited on French Island south of town, across from the mouth of Sandy Creek.

LaSalle's Fort (2)
(1682), near Prairie du Chien
A French post built by René-Robert Cavalier de LaSalle, located at the mouth of the Wisconsin River.

Fort St. Nicolas
(1683 - 1685), near Prairie du Chien
A French fur trading post built by Nicolas Perrot, located at or near the mouth of the Wisconsin River. Possibly still in use as late as 1689.

Prairie du Chien Post
(1737 - 1740 ?, 1754 - 1756 ?), Prairie du Chien
An unnamed (?) temporary French fort was built here after Sioux hostilities to the north at Lake Pepin (Fort St. Pierre at Maiden Rock), and was possibly still in use until 1740. Later in 1754 another French trade post (Fort Marin) was established here by Joseph Marin, and probably abandoned by 1756, if not earlier.

Located at the Pig's Eye Slough on the south edge of the old town were once stone chimney ruins and mounds/trenches attributed to an earlier French fort, known locally by the early American settlers as the "Old French Fort", or the "Pig's Eye Fort". This may be one or the other of the two French forts referenced above.

St. Feriole Island Trading Posts
(1781 - 1860 ?), Prairie du Chien
French-Canadian fur trappers first established a permanent white settlement and trading post here in 1781. A British North West Company fur trade post was built here in 1808, also known as Jean-Joseph Rolette's Post (1). Rolette was the father of Joseph Rollette (born 1820), later known as an important American fur trader in the Red River region of northern Minnesota. A small one-story stone building on the mainland at present North Beaumont Road and Blackhawk Avenue was the NWC's office and auxiliary warehouse. The NWC's large warehouse, built on the riverfront on the west side of the island, was later razed in 1910. The Michael Brisbois House was built in 1815, and was later used as an office by the American Fur Co.. It was demolished in the 1850's. The American Fur Co. arrived here in 1817, and first built a log warehouse, which was replaced in 1828 with the stone Astor Fur Warehouse. The stone Bernard Brisbois Warehouse on North Water Street at Bolvin Street was built in 1851. It was restored in the 1970's and now operated by the Villa Louis Historic Site as the Fur Trade Museum.
See also History of Prairie du Chien by the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce

Fort Shelby
(1814 - 1815, 1816 - 1829), Prairie du Chien FORT WIKI
A Federal triangular stockade with two corners as blockhouses, armed with six guns, located on an ancient Indian mound near the center of St. Feriole Island. It was captured by the British in July 1814, only two months after it was first built (but not completed), renamed Fort McKay, and then burned by the British when evacuated at the end of the war (May 1815). It was never recaptured by the Americans. The exact site has not been archaeologically found, although it is believed to have been sited on the present grounds of the Villa Louis Historic Site.

The much larger square stockaded Fort Crawford (1) (about 340 feet square) was then built here in July 1816, and then abandoned in 1829/30 after several years of periodic flooding. Two blockhouses were at opposing corners, the sides lined with barracks and storehouses. All structures were wood, except the stone powder magazine. The post was part of the Federal "Factory system" of Indian trading posts during 1816 - 1822, serving the Winnebago and Sioux and other local tribes. The Indian Factory and Factor's House were outside the fort just to the south (actually built about one month before the fort). A large mansion, the Villa Louis Historic Site (1843, razed and rebuilt 1873), was built on the southeast corner blockhouse of the fort's foundations. Site first excavated in 1937. The house was restored in the 1990's. The northwest blockhouse of Fort Crawford (1) has been reconstructed, and paver stones mark the foundation outlines of other known former fort buildings on the grounds. Admission fee.

Fort Crawford (2)
(1829 - 1849, 1855 - 1856, 1861 - 1863, 1864 - 1865), Prairie du Chien FORT WIKI
A replacement for Fort Crawford (1), built in 1829-34 mostly of stone and brick construction, was located on higher ground (Lockwood's Ridge) about one mile southeast of the old fort (centered near present Taylor Street and Beaumont Road). Four barrack blocks were arranged around a rectangular parade (about 500 by 340 feet), with no outer defense wall (except for the south and north walls, the east and west sides of the barracks serving as the fort walls), and with several outer buildings for the commanding officer's quarters, post hospital, and horse barns. Transfer of all military stores from the old fort was completed by 1831. Used in the Civil War as a recruitment and muster-in center and then as the Swift General Hospital (1864 - 1865). The military reservation was sold off in 1868 and all remaining buildings were demolished or removed by then. The site later became St. Mary's Academy (College) from 1872 - 1926. The Fort Crawford Museum, the former post hospital restored in the 1930's, is at 717 South Beaumont Road, operated by the Prairie du Chien Historical Society. Admission fee.
See also Fort Crawford II 1999 Site Excavations by the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center

Fort Wales Rock
(unknown), La Farge
A geological formation. Name origin unknown.

Camp Williams (State Military Reservation)
(Volk Field Air National Guard Base)
(1888 - present), Camp Douglas
Originally named Wisconsin (or Camp Douglas) State Reservation until renamed in 1926. The village of Camp Douglas was first established in 1864 as a logging camp. The post is a state National Guard training area and rifle range. This was the primary training area for the WI NG until 1946. Briefly named Camp Swanson in 1903. Permanent structures were built beginning in the mid 1890's. Used as a state mobilization center in 1898 and 1917. The 32nd "Red Arrow" Division trained here during WWI. Located on post is the Wisconsin National Guard Museum, housed in a 1890's log building near Volk Field (built 1935, named in 1957). The Wisconsin Military Academy moved to Fort McCoy in 1995, and was replaced by the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Training Center in 1996. The Camp Williams (aka Hardwood) Weapons Firing Range (1954) is located to the north near Finley.

Fort McCoy (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1909 - present), Fort McCoy FORT WIKI
A WI National Guard training area, originally two tracts named Camp Robinson and Camp Upton. Became an Army field artillery training area in 1917. Became the Sparta Army Ordnance Depot in 1919 - 1923. The two tracts were combined and renamed Camp McCoy in 1926. Federalized and expanded in 1942 for WWII infantry training. Held a Japanese POW camp in 1942 - 1945. Redesignated in 1974. Still in use as a major regional training center.

Nicolas Perrot's Post
(Perrot State Park)
(1685 - 1686), Trempealeau
Originally a French stockaded winter trading post located at the base of "La Montagne Qui Trempe a Leau" (Mount Trempealeau).

Another French fort (Linctot's Post) (1731 - 1736) was built here later by René Godefroy, sieur de Linctot. A site excavated in 1995-96 was later determined to be Linctot's Post.

An American Fur Co. post was also located here in the 1820's (Trempealeau Post). Also known as Fort Trempealeau. Admission fee to the state park.

Fort St. Antoine
(1686 - 1689), Stockholm
A French fort built by Nicolas Perrot. Marker located on Lake Pepin two miles southeast of town.

Fort St. Pierre
(1736 - 1737), Maiden Rock
A French trade post. Abandoned and burned because of Indian hostilities, the French fled to Prairie du Chien.

Fort La Pointe (2)
(1786), near Hager City
A British trade post located on the east bank of the Mississippi River nearly opposite the mouth of the Cannon River. Operated by Charles Patterson.

Jean Baptiste Perrault's Post (2)
(1788), near Irvington
A North West Co. stockaded trade post on the Red Cedar River south of Lake Menomin. Built in October 1788. In November 1788, two groups of Dakota and Ojibwe had attacked each other after trading with Perrault.

Louis Montra's Post
(1840's - 1850's), near Chetek ?
A civilian trading post located on the Chetek River south of town, or on the Red Cedar River, possibly as far south as Sand Creek. Montra was reportedly still trading in the Lake Chetek area in 1852 when government land surveys were being conducted.

Chetek Post
(1836 - 1840's), Chetek
A civilian trade post operated by Joe Trepannier, located at Red Club House Point at Lake Chetek. Permanent white settlement began here in 1866.

Auguste Corot's Post
(1830's ? - 1840's ?), Rice Lake
A civilian trading post. Corot was killed at his post by the Sioux, according to legend. Earthwork remnants of a 50-foot square stockade with two bastions (blockhouses), and two stone hearth foundations, were recorded in 1880 about one mile southeast of the town of Rice Lake, on a small hill overlooking the lake of the same name.

Fort Barbour
(1825 - 1830's), Saint Croix Falls
A Columbia Fur Co. trading post.

Joseph Brown had a trade post here in 1832.

Forts Folle Avoine (Historical Park) ?
(1802 - 1805, 1812 - 1816 ?), near Yellow Lake
Reconstructions of two adjacent French Canadian winter trading posts (North West Co. and the XY Company) and a Woodland Period Ojibwe Indian village along the Yellow River, south of Danbury. The North West Co. post was stockaded, and the XY Co. men took shelter in the stockade when threatened by the Dakota Indians, enemies of the Ojibwe. Possibly later used by the South West Company, a joint venture between the British North West Co. and the American Fur Co. during the War of 1812 period. The undisturbed site was discovered in 1969. Operated by the Burnett County Historical Society. Admission fee. See also A Burnett County Treasure from Century 21 - Sand County Services

Yellow Lake Post
(1830's), Yellow Lake
An American Fur Co. post.

Fort St. Croix
(1683), near Solon Springs
A French post located at the headwaters of the St. Croix River, near Upper St. Croix Lake.

Jean Baptiste Perrault's Post (1)
(1784), near Superior
A North West Co. trade post at the mouth of the St. Louis River. Possibly the same site (or close by) as Fort St. Louis at Connor's Point (see below). Perrault's ship had run aground at Wisconsin Point at Allouez Bay.

Fort St. Louis
(1793 - 1816), Superior
A North West Co. stockaded trading post on the St. Louis River at Superior Bay. Also known as Fond du Lac Post (2). Site located on Connor's Point near present-day Second (Bay) and Winter Streets. It had two one-gun blockhouses, two 40-foot long houses and a 60-foot long warehouse. It was the major trading depot for the area up until 1805, when the NW Co. post at Leech Lake, MN was established. After 1813 it became a post of the short-lived South West Co., a joint venture between the British North West Co. and the American Fur Co.. When the Americans regained full control in 1817, they opened a new post across the river on the Minnesota side. (see also Fond du Lac Post, MINNESOTA)
(NOTE: not to be confused with Fond du Lac (city) on the Fond du Lac River at Lake Winnebago)

Superior Stockade
(1862 - 1863), Superior
A state militia stockade with two blockhouses and a 40-foot by 60-foot community building, built to protect the town residents during the Sioux Uprisings in Minnesota. There was no real threat this far east. Garrisoned by Company B, 18th Wisconsin Infantry. Site located between 17th and 18th Aves. East, and between Third Street and the bay. A replica blockhouse and stockade was constructed in 1954 on East 2nd Street. It was demolished in 1997.

Fort Chagouamigon (1)
(1663 - 1670), near Ashland
A French trade post located at the head of Chequamegon Bay. It burned down in 1670. Also possibly the original location of the French Mission du St. Esprit (1665). A state marker describes a crude log structure first built in 1659 by French traders Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medard Chouart des Groseilliers. When the governor of New France later stripped them of their trading licenses for refusing to share the proceeds, they went to England to persuade Prince Rupert to sponsor an expedition to Hudson Bay. A not-faithful reproduction log stockade with two corner blockhouses and a gate house was once located at Bay View Park on Lake Shore Drive East, but was torn down in July 2008. A small log cabin with the marker is now located at the entrance to Masalowski Beach Park on Front Street/Lake Shore Drive West. A second marker dedicated to Radisson and Groseilliers is located to the southwest of town on WI 70 at Reserve Road, along the Reserve / Sand Lake township line within the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation.

Alexander Henry's Post
(1765 - 1766), near Bayfield ?
An independent British wintering post at a Chippewa village on Chequamegon Bay, probably near the Bayfield area, which was directly across the channel from Madeline Island, and which Henry described in his journal as four miles across the channel from the village. Also known as Chagouamigon Post (2).

Fort La Pointe (1)
(Madeline Island Museum)
(Friends of the Madeline Island Museum)
(1693 - 1698, 1718 - 1759, 1793 - 1812 ?, 1818 ? - 1848), La Pointe, Madeline Island
French Fort St. Esprit (1693 - 1698), a trading post/fort built by Pierre Charles Le Sueur, was originally located here, protecting a French Jesuit mission (La Pointe du St. Esprit) established earlier in 1665 (possibly earlier located at Chagouamigon). The fort was rebuilt in 1718 at or near the same site. This was the principal French trading post on Lake Superior. It was abandoned in 1759. The British North West Company then later established their own trading post nearby in 1793, built by Michel Cadotte (Cadotte's Post). It was taken over by the American Fur Co. after 1816 (or later), and was the company's regional headquarters during 1834 - 1848. Admission fee to museum. Fort marker at the end of Old Fort Road. See also History of Madeline Island from the Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce

François Victor Malhiot's Post
(1804 - 1807), Lac du Flambeau
A North West Co. trade post located at Flambeau Lake.


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