Step Into The 1800s With A Visit To Apple River Fort State Historic Site In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published December 13, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Around the Prairie State, there are numerous sites where you can learn a bit about American history. At Apple River Fort State Historic Site in the northwest corner of the state, visitors can learn about the events surrounding the 1832 Black Hawk War. It’s a fascinating look into the past filled with history that’s important to learn.
Apple River Fort State Historic Site is located in northwest Illinois at the Battle of the Apple River Fort site. The short battle occurred during the Black Hawk War on June 24, 1832.
The Black Hawk War itself was quite short-lasting from April 6 until August 27, 1832. After the discovery of lead in the area, settlers forced out Sauk and Fox tribes. A member of the Sauk tribe, Black Hawk, wanted to reclaim their land and gathered warriors who then began to raid settlements, including Apple River Fort.
There was only one death within the fort during the 45-minute battle. In 1847, it was torn down and in 1995, an archaeological dig was done upon the site, revealing artifacts as well as the foundations of the original fort.
Using the original foundations that were found during the dig, Apple River Fort was reconstructed in 1997. Eventually, an interpretive center was added to display artifacts and exhibits that teach visitors about the history of the area and the Black Hawk War.
Today, visitors can take a step back in time and enjoy a history lesson at Apple River Fort State Park. Admission is always free, but donations are accepted.
On your walk or drive from the interpretive center to the Fort, take a look at the Casper-Koester Cabin, a fully-restored original cabin from the 1840s. It was moved from Scales Mound to this state park.
During the Fort's daily hours, feel free to enter the buildings and have a look around. There may also be workers in period costumes giving living history presentations in and around the buildings. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the history of the Fort as you learn about what happened here so long ago.
Have you visited Apple River Fort State Historic Site before? Please share your experience in the comments and tell us your favorite historical site around the state. For more information including location and days and hours of operation, visit the Apple River Fort State Historic Site website and Facebook page.
