Watertown in Jefferson County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Trail Discovery

Photographed by Paul F, September 3, 2010

1. Trail Discovery Marker

Inscription. On July 18th, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, Little Thunder – a Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indian guide to the U.S. Militia – discovered Black Hawk’s Band crossed the Rock River in this vicinity. After receiving the news, Gen. James D. Henry and Col. Henry Dodge and the militia also crossed the river and followed the band’s trail west.

Erected 1998 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 409.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Black Hawk War, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1930.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 43° 11.654′ N, 88° 43.48′ W. Marker was in Watertown, Wisconsin, in Jefferson County. It was at the intersection of East Main Street and Rock River, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street. Marker located on river walk at Main Street and Rock River. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: One East Main Street, Watertown WI 53094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Madison.

It was also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Milwaukee Street Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Northwestern College

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(approx. half a mile away); In Honor of the 1955 Watertown High School State Baseball Champions (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fred Merkle Field (approx. 0.9 miles away); Adrian Joss / John P. "Red" Kleinow (approx. 0.9 miles away); Octagon House (approx. 1.1 miles away); Plank Road Pioneer Barn (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fred C. Merkle (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watertown.

Photographed by Paul F, September 3, 2010

2. Trail Discovery Marker

Looking south along river walk.

Photographed by Paul F, September 3, 2010

3. Trail Discovery Marker

Looking west across Main Street bridge from marker site.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,891 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2024, by Greta Schassler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.