Near Solon Springs in Douglas County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Brule–St. Croix Portage
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
1. Brule–St. Croix Portage Marker
The Brule and St. Croix rivers provide the natural water highway between Lake Superior and the Upper Mississippi. Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, in 1680 was the first white man to use this passage.
Traveling from Prairie du Chien in 1766, Jonathan Carver was advised by his Chippewa guide not to ascend the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers because he lacked enough gifts for the numerous and unfriendly Sioux along that route. Carver's party then detoured up the Chippewa River to Lac Court Oreilles, portaged to the Namekagon, traveled down stream to the St. Croix and up that river to the passage north of St. Croix Lake.
The two-mile portage between the St. Croix and Brule was used by another exploration party led by Henry Schoolcraft August 6, 1832. One of Schoolcraft's companions recorded that the Brule was a brook of clear, cold water "filled with brook trout." The Brule still is one of the best trout streams in the United States.
Erected 1962 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 120.)
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Location. 46° 19.358′ N, 91° 48.715′ W. Marker is near Solon Springs, Wisconsin, in Douglas County. Marker can be reached from Business U.S. 53, 0.2 miles north of U.S. 53, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at a wayside. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12274S Business 53, Solon Springs WI 54873, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Brule St. Croix Portage (approx. 4.4 miles away); Brule-St. Croix Portage (approx. 4.4 miles away); Antoine Gordon (approx. 5.3 miles away); Evergreen Park Cottage Sanatorium (approx. 14.3 miles away).
Also see . . . Photos of the Source of the St. Croix and Brule Rivers. (Submitted on June 17, 2011.)
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
2. Close-up of Map
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
3. Brule–St. Croix Portage Marker
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
4. Nearby Tribute
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
5. Tribute
A Tribute To the Chippewa Indian Scouts who guided the first American explorers and settlers to a fundamental "common ground." Those individual efforts led many from the Great Mississippi to the St. Croix, down the Brule River and proudly to the 'Big Blue' waters of the Gitche Gumee in the year of 1680 A.D.
Tm 1996
Tm 1996
Photographed By Keith L, June 12, 2011
6. Wayside
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 830 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 17, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
