Highlights Archives
Villa Louis Remembers Abraham Lincoln
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, re-enactors and historians at Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien will look back on Lincoln's younger years as a captain in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War of 1832 in an event called Lincoln's Frontier: 1825-1832 on Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2. This encampment will feature people and activities depicting aspects of life and the monumental changes that took place along the Mississippi River between the 1825 Treaty of Prairie du Chien, which produced a general treaty of peace among the region's many Indian tribes and established boundaries between white settlers and Native Americans, and the Black Hawk War of 1832, the last major Indian-white conflict on the east side of the Mississippi. During this time young Abe Lincoln would move to Illinois, reach adulthood and participate in the Blackhawk War.
A Tumultuous Time in Wisconsin History
In the wake of the Treaty of Prairie du Chien, the government planned for a measured settlement of the frontier by citizens from the older Eastern states, but the discovery of lead in Illinois and Wisconsin fueled a rush of miners eager to stake a claim and make a fortune on "gray gold." The lead rush brought increased tension between resident Indians and miners and well as increased warfare among the numerous Indian nations, themselves. In the spring of 1832 a large band of Sauk Indians who had been forced to leave their ancestral village near the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers, defied a federal order and returned to Illinois, sparking the Black Hawk War in which the militarily inexperienced Lincoln took part as captain of a rifle company.
Included in this event are characters and events that helped shape Lincoln's life and character. Re-enactors will portray fur traders, lead miners, farm wives, Black Hawk War militia soldiers and U.S. Army officers. Also included are special guests from the Sauk and Mesquakie Nations, including a descendant of Sauk leader Black Hawk, who will add their own unique perspectives to the historical record. In addition to the ongoing demonstrations, a 45-minute special program featuring informal discussions of the historical significance of events that unfolded during these years will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Visitors can expect to see activities reminiscent of those years, ranging from craft and frontier cooking demonstrations to the casting of lead musket balls. As is common at historical encampments and re-enactments, visitors can stroll through the encampments and talk with re-enactors as well as Villa Louis' own historians about these early years of Wisconsin history and how they came to influence the young Abe Lincoln.
Please note that this event features a significant time in American history and in Abraham Lincoln's life — but there will not be a Lincoln character at the event. At the time depicted by the event, Lincoln was years away from taking his historic place as the16th president of the United States.
If You Go
For complete details on hours, admission fees, locations and directions, and other details, see our Plan Your Visit pages.
:: Posted July 30, 2009
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