We told the boys if they worked hard this week and got their schoolwork done, we'd take them to "go see the tepees." This is the weekend for Rendezvous Days at "The Fort", a frontier get-together for period re-enactments and music, an 1840's military camp, multiple handcrafted demonstrations, bullwhip contests, tomahawk, knife, and skillet throwing, and archery, musket, and cannon demonstrations. There are also handcrafted items and fooferaw galore for sale. The boys have been talking about tepees all week, and it has been great motivation for them since they're studying all about early American history right now.
History
The military post ("The Fort") was established because of the U.S. government's campaign to remove Winnebago/Ho-Chunk Indians from the east side of the Mississippi River to the west side.
Throughout the 1830's, the Winnebago refused to leave their homelands of Wisconsin. The region contained their tribal burial grounds, and the Winnebago were hesitant to move so near their old adversaries, the Sioux. General Henry Atkinson suggested establishing a temporary fort in the "neutral ground" of Iowa Territory. Atkinson promised that the U.S. Military would protect the Winnebago from the Sioux (located to the north), Sauk, and Fox, and protect the Turkey River Indian Sub-agency; it was also their job to keep the Winnebago from moving back to Wisconsin. The soldiers also kept settlers out of the "neutral ground", as they were prohibited from entering the territory reserved for the Winnebago.
On May 31, 1840, 82 officers and enlisted infantry men arrived at the site to be Camp Atkinson. Simultaneously about 500-600 Winnebago Indians were also moved into the area. The first log barracks were constructed for the Fort the same year. The bitterly cold winters led to many desertions that first winter, so construction of stone barracks began in 1841. 24 buildings total were built at the Fort (and are listed above).
The infantry had difficulty keeping track of the various bands of Winnebago, and in June 1841 the first company of Dragoons (horse-mounted soldiers) arrived at the fort. In 1842 the Camp was renamed Fort Atkinson.
From 1841-1845 the number of infantry stationed at the Fort ranged from 115-196. By August 1845 the number of troops had dropped to 59. In 1846 the regular army troops were sent to Mexico to fight in the Mexican-American War. Volunteer troops took over manning the Fort.
By the mid-1840's so many pioneer farmers had invaded the territory that the government decided to move the Winnebago Indians out of the region and into Minnesota. In 1846, the same year Iowa became a state, the Winnebago Indians signed a treaty relinquishing their land in the "neutral ground." In June 1848 the military escort of the Winnebago into Minnesota was completed. With no more Winnebago Indians in the area, the last company of soldiers left the Fort in February of 1849. In 1855 the Fort was auctioned off to private owners and the buildings torn down.
It wasn't until the 1920's that interest was shown in the Fort as a historical sight; foundations were remarked in 1940, and not until the 1950's were plans made to rebuild parts of the old Fort.
The Fort has been hosting Rendezvous Days since 1977.
(This information was compiled from a variety of different sources.)
Fort Atkinson, 1842
1. Stockade and Main Gate
2. North Barracks, 1842
3. Guard House, 1840
4. Cistern, 1840-1843
5. Post Commissary, 1840
6. Sutler's Store, 1842
7. Limestone Quarry
8. Southwest Block House, 1842
9. West Officers' Quarters, 1840
10. South Barracks, 1840
11. East Officers' Quarters, 1842
12. Powder Magazine, 1842
13. Ice House
14. Root House
15. Northeast Block House, 1842
16. Laundresses' Hut
17. Laundresses' Hut
18. Laundresses' Hut
19. Carpenters' Shop
20. Blacksmiths' Shop
21. Bake House
22. Quartermaster's Office and Stables
23. Granary
24. Company "I" Stables
25. Company "B" Stables
26. Other Stables
History
The military post ("The Fort") was established because of the U.S. government's campaign to remove Winnebago/Ho-Chunk Indians from the east side of the Mississippi River to the west side.
Throughout the 1830's, the Winnebago refused to leave their homelands of Wisconsin. The region contained their tribal burial grounds, and the Winnebago were hesitant to move so near their old adversaries, the Sioux. General Henry Atkinson suggested establishing a temporary fort in the "neutral ground" of Iowa Territory. Atkinson promised that the U.S. Military would protect the Winnebago from the Sioux (located to the north), Sauk, and Fox, and protect the Turkey River Indian Sub-agency; it was also their job to keep the Winnebago from moving back to Wisconsin. The soldiers also kept settlers out of the "neutral ground", as they were prohibited from entering the territory reserved for the Winnebago.
On May 31, 1840, 82 officers and enlisted infantry men arrived at the site to be Camp Atkinson. Simultaneously about 500-600 Winnebago Indians were also moved into the area. The first log barracks were constructed for the Fort the same year. The bitterly cold winters led to many desertions that first winter, so construction of stone barracks began in 1841. 24 buildings total were built at the Fort (and are listed above).
The infantry had difficulty keeping track of the various bands of Winnebago, and in June 1841 the first company of Dragoons (horse-mounted soldiers) arrived at the fort. In 1842 the Camp was renamed Fort Atkinson.
From 1841-1845 the number of infantry stationed at the Fort ranged from 115-196. By August 1845 the number of troops had dropped to 59. In 1846 the regular army troops were sent to Mexico to fight in the Mexican-American War. Volunteer troops took over manning the Fort.
By the mid-1840's so many pioneer farmers had invaded the territory that the government decided to move the Winnebago Indians out of the region and into Minnesota. In 1846, the same year Iowa became a state, the Winnebago Indians signed a treaty relinquishing their land in the "neutral ground." In June 1848 the military escort of the Winnebago into Minnesota was completed. With no more Winnebago Indians in the area, the last company of soldiers left the Fort in February of 1849. In 1855 the Fort was auctioned off to private owners and the buildings torn down.
It wasn't until the 1920's that interest was shown in the Fort as a historical sight; foundations were remarked in 1940, and not until the 1950's were plans made to rebuild parts of the old Fort.
The Fort has been hosting Rendezvous Days since 1977.
(This information was compiled from a variety of different sources.)
We arrived at the Fort mid-morning, and had a healthy walk up several flights of stairs. Here are some shots of our day.
Here we go...
We entered the Fort near what was once the powder magazine (#24 on the map). The building you can see is the North Barracks.
The central portion of the North Barracks was rebuilt in 1958. The foundations visible in the foreground were once the West Officers Quarters (#3 on map.)
The North Barracks once looked something like this.
Aidan and Gavin, looking out a cannon portal in the Southwest Block House. It once housed two of the Fort's four cannons.
They were demonstrating the "wagon wheel" march. I'm not quite sure what the purpose of marching in a tight circle was?
"Now march off the dizziness, men. Then...windmill, MARCH!"
Archery displays.
Aidan and Gavin made candles again.
Dip quickly in the hot wax, then slowly in cold water, and repeat many times.
Liam was not in the candle club...he just wanted some rock candy!
All better! Sugaaaarrrrrr...
By their facial expressions, I don't think the candy was quite what they had imagined.
We splurged on some fry bread. He warned me not to. That commissary had a rat problem!
The Main Gate
This map didn't show up so well.
Conestoga wagon. "Gavin, this is what people used back then instead of vans." Gavin: "Whoa."
Foundation to the East Officers' Quarters, and Powder Magazine is in the distance.
Looking across the Parade Grounds at the Southwest Block House and stockade walls.
We watched them fire both cannons. After, Gavin kept yelling "CANNON HO!" He may have suffered temporary hearing loss.
My boys. Eli was a dear and took the carrier and Ian for me when I started having muscle spasms in my back. Ian fell asleep for him shortly after this photo.
Inside the rebuilt North Barracks is a museum
Birch bark canoe!
Display of what the barracks looked like inside
We also splurged on some root beer...
...and of course, kolaches. Eli's (and Ian's) favorite. They took a hit on the way home.
So thankful we had the chance to do this "field trip" as a family on a beautiful fall day. I may have gotten more enjoyment out of it than anyone else (slightly obsessed with history here) but as we left no one whined if we could now "do something fun". I call that a success!
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