History of Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters (FWSQ), listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, overlooks the site where Louis Joliet and Father Marquette left the Fox River to portage to the Wisconsin River in 1673. The area of land connecting the waterway was called "wauona" by American Indians in the area, and "le portage" by the French.
The Surgeons Quarters was originally the home of Francois LeRoi, a Métis (of French and American Indian descent), and was built between 1816 and 1819. The building is a French post and log construction made from tamarack logs. LeRoi operated a portaging and fur trading business between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers along the same waterway where US Army soldiers would later build Fort Winnebago in 1828.
The Surgeons Quarters was originally the home of Francois LeRoi, a Métis (of French and American Indian descent), and was built between 1816 and 1819. The building is a French post and log construction made from tamarack logs. LeRoi operated a portaging and fur trading business between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers along the same waterway where US Army soldiers would later build Fort Winnebago in 1828.
Fort Winnebago was built as one of three forts along the Fox, Wisconsin, and Mississippi Rivers. LeRoi's home was ideally situated and was bought by the Army in 1828. For the next six years the Army used it as a sutlers store. When the hospital was built behind it in 1834, the sutler's store was remodeled to serve as the home of Fort Winnebago's surgeon and his family. The hospital served all citizens, including American Indians, from hundreds of miles away; after all, the three forts were the locations of the only doctors in the whole of the Wisconsin Territory.
Fort Winnebago was garrisoned with 200 soldiers until 1845 when the troops left for the Mexican American War. The Army saw no conflict during their tenure at Fort Winnebago, but they did leave the Fort to serve in the Black Hawk War of 1832 at Battle of Bad Ax in western Wisconsin. Following the Army's departure the surgeon's cabin was occupied by a local physician and eventually turned into an apartment.
Fort Winnebago was garrisoned with 200 soldiers until 1845 when the troops left for the Mexican American War. The Army saw no conflict during their tenure at Fort Winnebago, but they did leave the Fort to serve in the Black Hawk War of 1832 at Battle of Bad Ax in western Wisconsin. Following the Army's departure the surgeon's cabin was occupied by a local physician and eventually turned into an apartment.
In 1938 the Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the cabin (that would formally be called the "Surgeons Quarters"), as it was the only surviving building of Fort Winnebago. They worked with many groups to restore it to its original form using plans found in the National Archives in Washington, DC. Thus, Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters opened its doors as a historic tourist site in 1954. The cottage that houses the Heritage Gift Shop was later built in 1958.
Today visitors can enjoy touring the Surgeons Quarters which is staged with many interesting period documents and artifacts, including: medical equipment, books, blacksmith items, clocks, crockery, whale oil lamps, glassware, early children's toys, and more.
In addition to the many original pieces that were donated by Portage area residents and Daughters of the American Revolution chapters throughout the state, the Wisconsin Historical Society also aided in furnishing FWSQ. We thank all of the individuals and organizations that have supported FWSQ through the years!
Today visitors can enjoy touring the Surgeons Quarters which is staged with many interesting period documents and artifacts, including: medical equipment, books, blacksmith items, clocks, crockery, whale oil lamps, glassware, early children's toys, and more.
In addition to the many original pieces that were donated by Portage area residents and Daughters of the American Revolution chapters throughout the state, the Wisconsin Historical Society also aided in furnishing FWSQ. We thank all of the individuals and organizations that have supported FWSQ through the years!
Garrison SchoolThis one-room schoolhouse on the FWSQ property is also open to the public.
Old Fort Winnebago CemeteryOld Fort Winnebago Cemetery is the final resting spot of two Revolutionary War patriots.
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Military RoadFort Winnebago Army soldiers helped build this 234-mile road between 1835 and 1857.
Historic Indian Agency HouseBuilt for John Kinzie, Indian Agent to the Ho-Chunk Nation (Winnebago), in 1832.
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