Fort Crawford was built on a small island on the Mississippi River in 1816, by the United States military to create a military presence in the area after the War of 1812. Due to flooding the fort was moved to Prairie du Chien in 1829. Prairie du Chien is the oldest town on the Upper Mississippi River, part of the Tri-Cities that also include Marquette and McGregor, Iowa. Because of Prairie du Chien’s location it was a very prosperous place during the French and Indian War and sometime thereafter. The ties between the people of Prairie du Chien with the local Native Americans were very strong; so much so that the United States military built a chain of forts along with Fort Crawford when it was moved from the island onto the mainland. This military move obviously put an end to fur trade as well as the ties of the local towns’ people with the Native Americans, which not long after led to the Black Hawk War in 1832.
The above postcard is a photograph of a painting inscribed: Original Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. This first collection was donated to Prairie du Chien Museum at Fort Crawford by Griff William, a local resident, interested in the acquisition of local historical materials.
The photo postcard above is Fort Crawford before its restoration, begun by the Daughters of the American Revolution during the 1930’s. The postcard is inscribed in white paint, along the bottom of the left hand corner: Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien – Wis.
The above postcard, also part of the McGregor collection, circa 1910 is a photograph of Steiner’s Construction, early immigrants to Prairie du Chien, their family line has been in the area for over 150 years.
The other collection Mary brought with her to show me comes from a private collector she works with and permission was given to share a few of this mysterious individual’s fantastic collection.
The above postcard is inscribed: Section of New Prairie du Chien, Marquette $1,000,000 suspension bridge, total length 3729 feet, only suspension bridge on the Mississippi River, open for traffic 1932, dedicated June 9-10-11, 1932. I love this image with the parked 1930’s automobiles in the foreground and people standing just behind the cars on the bridge barely visible.
A rooftop level street scene, inscribed: Main Street, Prairie du Chien, Wis. The photographer captures very clearly the road sign for Wisconsin Highway 18 then known as The Great River Road which connects Marquette, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
Last but definitely not least, a spectacular aerial view of Prairie du Chien, Marquette, Iowa and the Mississippi River. This photo postcard is inscribed: Pontoon and Suspension Bridges between Marquette, Iowa & Prairie du Chien, Wis. The steamboat with its stacks blazing captures an important aspect of history within this Tri-City area.
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