Museums
Black Hawk
Address:
1510 46th Ave
Rock Island, IL 61201
Contact:
Phone: 309-788-0177
Website: http://www.blackhawkpark.org/
Black Hawk was inhabited from 1730 to 1830 by the Sauk and Mesquakie (Fox) Indian Nations. Saukenak was one of the largest Indian centers in North America and home of the famous Sauk warrior-leader, Black Hawk. In the late 1820's, white settlers began to move into the area, and by 1831 all Indians were forced to cross the Mississippi River. Black Hawk returned in 1832 with fifteen hundred followers in an unsuccessful attempt to regain their homeland. The Hauberg Indian Museum depicts the daily life and seasonal activities of the Sauk and Mesquakie tribes through life-size dioramas, traditional bark-covered summer and winter houses, and material culture artifacts.
The Black Hawk site was first occupied by Indians as long as 12,000 years ago, and it was continuously inhabited through the Hopewell period, ca. 100 B.C. to A.D. 250. Villagers lived within the bounds of the present historic site, and they built burial mounds along the bluffs above the river. Unfortunately, the mounds have been destroyed.
For nearly a century beginning about 1730 the Sauk and Mesquakie Indians made their home here. Saukenak, the capital of the Sauk nation and one of the largest Indian centers in North America, stood adjacent to the site. The Sauk and the Mesquakie farmed the land along the river and relied upon the fur trade for their livelihood. At the height of their power they controlled parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri and all of Iowa.
Saukenak was the site of the westernmost battle of the Revolutionary War. Americans destroyed the village in 1780 because some of the Sauk had given military support to the British. In 1804 several chiefs of the tribe ceded the village land to the United States government. The Sauk warrior Black Hawk (he was not a chief) headed the pro-British faction that refused to recognize the cession as legal. During the War of 1812, the pro-British Indians remained at Saukenak, defeating the Americans in two Mississippi River battles- Campbell's Island and Credit Island.
In the late 1820s white settlers began to move into the area. By 1831 the Sauk and Mesquakie had been forced across the Mississippi, relinquishing their claim with the promise that they would not return. The warrior Black Hawk, in 1832, led 1,500 followers back into Illinois in an attempt to regain their cornfields. Following several sharp skirmishes, Black Hawk and his followers- men, women, and children-were chased into the wilderness of southern Wisconsin and decisively defeated at the Battle of Bad Axe on August 2, 1832.
Hauberg Indian Museum
The Hauberg Indian Museum, located in the lodge constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, interprets the culture of the Sauk and Mesquakie. The collection of Dr. John Hauberg, a Rock Island philanthropist, formed the basis of the museum's collection, which features full-size replicas of Sauk winter and summer houses. Dioramas with life-size figures depict activities of the Sauk and Mesquakie people typical of the period 1750 to 1830. Many artifacts, including authentic trade goods, jewelry, and domestic items are displayed.
Early Recreation Center
From 1882 to 1927 the Watch Tower amusement park occupied the area that would become Black Hawk State Historic Site. Local businessman Bailey Davenport, president and superintendent of the Rock Island and Milan Steam Railway, developed the Watch Tower as a destination for his rail line. Horse-drawn cars were phased out in favor of electric cars in the 1890s, and daily attendance soared as high as 15,000 as people took the streetcar to Watch Tower for concerts, operas, vaudeville, open-air theater, fireworks, bowling, target shooting, outdoor movies (projected on a canvas screen that often flapped in the breeze), balloon ascensions, and amusement rides. The Watch Tower boasted a figure-eight roller coaster (the four loops made it the first of its kind west of Chicago) and the memorable Shoot the Chutes toboggan slide, which was invented in Rock Island. Beginning in 1898 the "Chutes"-flat boats with side runners that slid on a greased track-carried riders down the bluff at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. After shooting down the slope, the boat bounced across the waters of the Rock River. Then the "conductor" poled the boat back to the slide, and an electric cable hauled it back to the top.
A summer pavilion built in the 1880s was followed by a series of inns built where the present Watch Tower Lodge stands today. Dining and dancing were popular at the old inns. After a visit to Black Hawk's Watch Tower, former Union general William Sherman remarked that in his extensive travels he had never met its equal. But the park's popularity waned in the 1920s, and in 1927 the State of Illinois purchased the site, renaming it Black Hawk State Park. It was made a state historic site in 1987.
Natural Features
The deciduous hardwood forest and the Rock River provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. Nearly 175 species of birds can be observed during the year, though spring is a favorite time for observing the migrating species. The dominant trees of the upland forest-oaks- are bountiful at Black Hawk, along with a variety of other hardwoods. Numerous wildflowers, shrubs, and vines grow under their canopy. More than 30 wildflower species, including wild orchids (showy orchids), bloom in April and May.
The Black Hawk Forest, a dedicated Nature Preserve, has been identified as one of the least-disturbed forests in Illinois. In addition, a small area on the southwest corner of the site has been planted in native prairie plants.
Dickson (PIoneer) Cemetery
Dickson Cemetery, in the northwest portion of the site, is a two-acre tract where many of the area's early settlers are buried along with murderers and outlaws. Paupers were buried one on top of another in the crowded cemetery. Today, the wooden crosses and broken headstones are surrounded by flowers and shrubs characteristic of the nineteenth century and enclosed by a split-rail fence.
Tickets/Admission Info:
Black Hawk State Historic Site is open year- round from sunrise to 10 P.M. When weather conditions necessitate the closing of site roads, access is by foot only. The Hauberg Museum is open from 8:30 A.M. to noon and from 1 P.M. to 4:30 P..M. daily except for major holidays. Guided tours of the museum are given by appointment; phone 309-788-9536. The museum, lodge, and restrooms are handicapped accessible. Groups of 25 or more must have a permit and be supervised by at least one responsible adult for each 15 minors. All pets must be on a leash. All vehicles must remain on roadways and parking lots. No plants, flowers, shrubs, or trees may be removed or damaged. No ground fires are permitted. NO CAMPING IS ALLOWED. The lodge features a public lounge. Restrooms, a pay telephone, and vending machines are available there. There are three picnic areas with shade, tables, water, and stoves, and three shelter houses with fireplaces are available. Playground equipment is located nearby. Four miles of marked hiking trails-with a rating of "moderate difficulty"-wind through the site. Trail maps and interpretive nature trail pamphlets are available at the Museum desk. Picnic areas and hiking trails on the south side of the site may be used for cross-country skiing. Annual events at Black Hawk include spring bird and wildflower walks, a September prairie program and field trip, and a festival (Black Hawk Days) honoring native American culture. Geology and archaeology outings are conducted on a rotating basis each October. Contact the Site Manager for dates and times. For additional information, write Site Manager, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201, or phone 309-788-0177. Hours: 8:30 a.m. - Noon & 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Directions: Black Hawk is located within the city of Rock Island, Illinois. From I-280, take the Milan Exit (U.S. 67), continue north through Milan to Rock Island's Black Hawk Road (State Route 5), turn right and proceed one-half mile to the site.
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