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. 43° 11.654′ N, 88° 43.48′ W. Marker is in Watertown, Wisconsin, in Jefferson County. It is 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 is at or near this postal address: One East Main Street, Watertown WI 53094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin

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and in Greater Madison.

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

Photographed by Eric Kuntz, September 11, 2026

4. Trail Discovery Marker

Marker has been put back in place by Watertown City Street crew after work along River Walk was completed.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,960 times since then and 132 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2024, by Greta Mulder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on September 13, 2026, by Eric Kuntz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.