Lyons in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Laughton's Trading Post
Photographed By Chris Kaufmann, July 31, 2023
1. close-up of Laughton's trading house marker
Marker is at center of rectangular foundation (about 30 feet by 60 feet).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1828.
Location. 41° 48.642′ N, 87° 48.417′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Lyons, Illinois, in Cook County. Marker can be reached from 47th Street (Local Route 43) west of Harlem Avenue (Illinois Route 43), on the right when traveling west. From 47th street, take the southern entrance to the preserve. Follow the road to the third grove. Walk to the back right corner where a large tree with a bent branch marks the dirt path. Follow the path about 100 feet to a clearing where the trading house foundation is and the stone marker is in the center. NOTE: There are no park district signs marking the location. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lyons IL 60534, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this location, measured as the crow flies. The Chicago Portage (approx. 0.4 miles away); Portage Creek Passage (approx. 0.4 miles away); Portage Passage (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Eating on the Run
this page online
More about this marker. The trading house sat between the Des Plaines River, on the west, and the southern end of old Mud Lake (Harlem Ave.), on the east, along the original Chicago Portage. The portage was a dirt trading route used by the Native Indians for centuries and first seen by non-natives Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette in September, 1673 during their return trip from their exploration of the Mississippi River for the French Government.
The trading house was the second one built by the Laughton brothers, the first being at Hardscrabble. The trading house was used by fur traders from 1828 to 1834 to trade with American Indians along the Chicago Portage. It was supposedly also a tavern and temporary respite for the fur traders after a long journey on foot.
Regarding Laughton's Trading Post. For additional information on the significance of Laughton’s trading post, see the following publications:
Biles,
Photographed By Chris Kaufmann, July 31, 2023
2. Laughton's trading house limestone foundation close-up view
Wm E Rose and Associates, Inc., “Design Study, The Chicago Portage and Laughton’s Trading Post,” 1975, online published by National Park Service History elibrary.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Photographed By Chris Kaufmann, July 31, 2023
3. Laughton's trading house aerial photo from 337 feet
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2023, by Chris Kaufmann of Arlington Heights, Illinois. This page has been viewed 103 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2023, by Chris Kaufmann of Arlington Heights, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
