Fort Atkinson in Winneshiek County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

East Officers' Quarters

Family Life on the Frontier

— Fort Atkinson State Preserve —

East Officers' Quarters Marker image. Click for full size.

August 17, 2017

1. East Officers' Quarters Marker

Inscription. On the east side of the parade ground was another Officers' Quarters. This was a two-story stone building with gardens and three privies behind it. The commanding officer, Captain C. V. Sumner, had his quarters in the north end of this building. Officers were allowed to have their wives and children live with them inside the fort. The enlisted men's wives were not allowed to live within the stockade but resided in the laundress houses located just outside the walls across the Military Road.

Photo caption:
Fragments of flower pots, imported English china, and French wine bottles were recovered during archaeological excavation of the officers' quarters. Such items show how these people tried to bring elements of the lifestyle that they had left behind with them to the frontier.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 43° 8.718′ N, 91° 56.351′ W. Marker is in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, in Winneshiek County. It can be reached from 2nd Street east of 8th Avenue, on the right when

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traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 2nd St, Fort Atkinson IA 52144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northeast Iowa — the Driftless Area

and in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Powder House (within shouting distance of this marker); South Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Constructing Fort Atkinson (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Atkinson (within shouting distance of this marker); Stockade & Main Gate (within shouting distance of this marker); Root House & Ice House (within shouting distance of this marker); Guard House (within shouting distance of this marker).

East Officers' Quarters ruins image. Click for full size.

August 17, 2017

2. East Officers' Quarters ruins

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Atkinson.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2021. This page has been viewed 338 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 24, 2021. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.