Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien is the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,018. The city is located partially within the Town of Prairie du Chien. Prairie du Chien means "prairie of the dog" in French.

History

The first European visitors to reach Prairie du Chien were the French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, who reached the city by canoe on June 17, 1673, and discovered the Mississippi River. Most further travel between French Canada and the Mississippi River passed through Prairie du Chien. In 1685, the French explorer Nicholas Perrot established a trading post in the area as part of the massive French fur trade industry. The significance of Prairie du Chien as a center of the fur trade did not diminish until the mid 19th century.

Related Topics:
Europe - French - Jacques Marquette - Louis Joliet - June 17 - 1673 - Mississippi River - Canada - 1685 - Nicholas Perrot - Trading post - Fur trade - 19th century

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In 1763, Great Britain defeated France in the French and Indian War, and took possession of the French territory in North America, including Prairie du Chien. The British expanded the fur trade during their occupation of the area. During the American Revolutionary War the city was used as meeting point for British troops and their Native American allies. After the Treaty of Paris (1783) granted the area to the new United States of America, the British and their Loyalists were slow to withdraw. Only after the War of 1812 would the city become fully American.

Related Topics:
1763 - Great Britain - French and Indian War - North America - American Revolutionary War - Native American - Treaty of Paris (1783) - United States of America - War of 1812

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The U.S. was slow to present any authority over Prairie du Chien, but late in the War of 1812 the U.S. realized the importance of holding Prairie du Chien to prevent British attacks from Canada, and began construction of Fort Shelby in 1814. In July, the fort was captured by British Soldiers, who occupied it until the war's end in 1815. Not wanting another invasion through Prairie du Chien, the Americans constructed Fort Crawford in 1816. The fort was the site of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien (1825 & 1829).

Related Topics:
Fort Shelby - 1814 - 1815 - Fort Crawford - 1816 - Treaty of Prairie du Chien - 1825 - 1829

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In 1829, army doctor William Beaumont carried out many of his famous experiments on digestion in the hospital of Fort Crawford. Beaumont's discoveries are still the basis of our knowledge on the human digestive process.

Related Topics:
1829 - William Beaumont - Digestion - Hospital

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Col. Zachary Taylor, who later became the 12th U.S. President, was the fort's commanding officer during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Taylor oversaw the surrender of Black Hawk in Prairie du Chien. Lt. Jefferson Davis, who later became the president of the Confederate States of America, was positioned at Fort Crawford at the same time. It was there that he met his future wife Sarah "Knoxie" Taylor.

Related Topics:
Zachary Taylor - U.S. President - Black Hawk War - 1832 - Jefferson Davis - Confederate States of America - Sarah "Knoxie" Taylor

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Wisconsin's first millionaire and Prairie du Chien's wealthiest resident, Hercules L. Dousman, died in 1868. His son, H. Louis Dousman inherited much of his fortune. In 1870 Louis Dousman had a luxurious victorian home constructed, named the Villa Louis. The home became Wisconsin's first state-operated historic site in 1952. Inventor and engineer, Jeremiah Burnham Tainter also lived here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Related Topics:
Millionaire - Hercules L. Dousman - 1868 - H. Louis Dousman - 1870 - Villa Louis - 1952 - Jeremiah Burnham Tainter

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In the early 20th century Prairie du Chien temporarily became a major center for the freshwater pearl industry. At the same time, the city's Jesuit-operated Campion High School gained recognition for excellence in education. The school closed in the 1970s, but not without a pair of famous alumni, Vicente Fox and George Wendt.

Related Topics:
20th century - Freshwater pearl - Jesuit - Campion High School - 1970s - Vicente Fox - George Wendt

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