Paw Paw in Lee County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Old Chicago Trail

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

1. Old Chicago Trail Marker

Inscription. The Old Chicago Trail extended from Fort Dearborn to Galena. A government mail route was established along this Indian Trail in 1829. The Potawatomi ceded their territory to the government in 1833. This route became the first east-west stagecoach trail across northern Illinois. Paw Paw Grove, was a midway haven between Chicago and Galena. It was over this trail poetess Margaret Fuller traveled in 1843. She wrote: "We traveled the blooming plain unmarked by any road, only the friendly track of the wheels which beat, not broke the grass. Our stations were not from town to town, but from grove to grove."

Erected 1986 by the State Bank of Paw Paw and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 41° 41.385′ N, 88° 59.226′ W. Marker is in Paw Paw, Illinois, in Lee County. It is at the intersection of Chicago Road and Park Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Chicago Road. Marker is located at a park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 Chicago Rd, Paw Paw IL 61353, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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 Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 4 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Homes of Chief Waubonsie and Madeline Ogee (approx. half a mile away); Chief Shabbona (approx. 8.3 miles away); Shabbona (approx. 8.4 miles away); Railroads and the Founding of Mendota (approx. 11.8 miles away).

Also see . . . Galena-Chicago Trail on Wikipedia. Ran from the two places from the mid-1830s to 1854. Like most historic trails, it was eclipsed by railroads. (Submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 11, 2022

2. Old Chicago Trail Marker

Marker is at a small park west of town

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 958 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.