Come explore the rich history of the Rock River Trail!
The Rock River Trail covers 320 miles in 11 counties in Wisconsin and Illinois. Located along this trail are many sites of significance in the deep and varied history of this region. As you explore the Rock River Trail, this map will help identify destinations that will appeal to the history buff in all of us. In your travels you will find Native American historical sites, sites of architectural, literary and artistic significance, museums and historical centers, as well as historical markers and sites. Many of these attractions have been developed by the proud members of each community who want to preserve the story of the past as a living tribute to those who have come before us.
Native American Indian Mounds
During the period from 500 BC to 1100 AD a prehistoric culture know as Woodland was centered in the area of the Upper Mississippi River across southern Wisconsin to Lake Michigan. That culture is now know as the Effigy Mound Builders for its practice of constructing earthen mounds for burial purposes and also in the shapes of animals – birds, bear, panthers and turtles – and spiritual images. Linear earthen mounds were also constructed for ceremonial purposes and to mark celestial events and seasonal observances. Wisconsin has the largest number of effigy mounds of any state. The Rock River corridor through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois is home to many effigy mounds preserved on public and private lands. You’ll find details below about these archeological sites.
Links Regarding Native American Archeological Sites Along Rock River Corridor
- “Indian Village and Camp Sites of Lower Rock River Valley in Wisconsin” The Wisconsin Archeologist, October, 1929
- “Ten descendants of famous chief camp at Lake Koshkonong” – The Wisconsin State Journal, May 9, 1929
- “Winnegago Villages and Chieftains of the Lower Rock River Region” The Wisconsin Archeologist, July 1923
- “Archeological Chart of Koshkonong Lake Wisconsin” – June 30, 1907 – Wisconsin Archeological Society
The Rock River Trail…explore our history!
Use the map below to find historical locations along the Rock River, or click here for a complete list with links.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL MAP
Rock River Trail History Trail
The following list is separated by county and provides links to each site included on the map.
Fond du Lac County
Native American Historical Sites
- Taylor Park Mounds – Fond du Lac
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
- Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – Fond du Lac
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Galloway House & Village – Fond du Lac
Historical Markers or Sites
- Horicon Marsh – Marker #92
Dodge County
Native American Historical Sites
- Nitschke Mounds Park – Burnett
- Horicon Marsh Effigy Mounds – Horicon
Sites of Architectural Significance
- Mayville Limestone School Museum – Mayville
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
- Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts – Beaver Dam
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Hollenstein Wagon & Carriage Museum – Mayville
- Satterlee Clark Historical Museum – Horicon
- Dodge County Historical Society – Beaver Dam
- Fox Lake Historical Museum – Fox Lake
Historical Markers or Sites
- Frederick Douglass – Marker 458 Beaver Dam
Jefferson County
Native American Historical Sites
- Aztalan – Lake Mills
- Jefferson Tamarack Swamp Effigy Mound – Jefferson
- Panther Intaglio – Fort Atkinson
- Indian Mounds Park/Koshkonong Mounds – Fort Atkinson
- Effigy Mounds Preserve – Whitewater
- Garman Nature Preserve – Waterloo
Sites of Architectural Significance
- Octagon House – Watertown
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
- Sterling North Society – Edgerton
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Aztalan – Lake Mills
- First Kindergarten in America – Watertown
- Hoard Historical Museum – Fort Atkinson
Historical Markers or Sites
- Black Hawk Trail Discovery – Marker #409- Watertown
- Highway Marking System – Marker #46 – Ixonia
- In Service to Their Country – Marker # 313- Johnson Creek
- Drumlins – Marker #257 – Lake Mills
- Fort Koshkonong – Marker #152 – Fort Atkinson
- Burnt Village – Marker #408 – Fort Atkinson
Dane County
Native American Historical Sites
Madison Lakes Area Mounds – Madison
Rock County
Native American Historical Sites
- Effigy Mounds at Beloit College – Beloit
- Totem Mounds – Beloit
Sites of Architectural Significance
- Rasey House – Beloit
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
- Beloit Fine Arts Incubator – Beloit
- Wright Museum of Art – Beloit
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Milton House Museum – Milton
- Lincoln – Tallman House – Janesville
- Rock County Historical Society – Janesville
- Logan Museum of Anthropology – Beloit
- Angel Museum – Beloit
Historical Markers or Sites
- Wisconsin’s Tobacco Lands – Marker #109 – Edgerton
- Storr’s Lake – Marker #229 – Milton
- Rock River Industry – Marker #271 – Janesville
- First Wisconsin State Fair – Marker #319 – Janesville
- Janesville Tank Company – Marker #298 – Janesville
- Black Hawk’s Grove – Marker #462 – Janesville
- Route of Abraham Lincoln – Marker #93 – Janesville/Beloit
- Home of Governor Harvey – Marker #13 – Shopiere
- Black Hawk War Marker– #159 – Beloit
- Roy Chapman Andrews – Marker #555 – Beloit
- How – Beckman Mill – Marker #353 – Beloit
- Beloit College – Marker #158 – Beloit
- Wisconsin’s First Aviator – Marker #144
- Turtle Village – Marker #406 – Beloit
Winnebago County
Native American Historical Sites
- Beattie Park Mound Group – Rockford
Sites of Architectural Significance
- Coronado Performing Arts Center – Rockford
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House – Rockford
- Indian Hill Manor and Farm – Rockford
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Macktown Living History Education Center – Rockton
- Historic Auto Attractions – Roscoe
- Midway Village Museum – Rockford
- Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum – Rockford
- Veteran’s Memorial Hall and Museum – Rockford
- Ethnic Heritage Museum – Rockford
- Burpee Museum of Natural History – Rockford
Historical Markers or Sites
- Macktown Living History Education Center – Rockton
- Camp Grant – Rockford
- Rockford College – Rockford
Ogle County
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Byron Museum of History – Byron
- Byron Heritage Farm Museum – Byron
- Jarrett Prairie Center – Byron
- John Deere Historic Site-Grand Detour
Historical Markers or Sites
- Soldier’s Monument – Byron
- Stillman’s Defeat – Stillman Valley
- Illinois Freedom Bell – Mt Morris
- Mount Morris College – Mt Morris
- The Eternal Indian – Black Hawk Statue – Oregon
- First Steel Plow – Grand Detour
Lee County
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home – Dixon
- Loveland Community House and Museum – Dixon
- Northwest Territory Historic Museum – Dixon
- Franklin Creek Grist Mill & Interpretive Center – Franklin Grove
Historical Markers or Sites
- Lincoln Speech Marker – Dixon
- Ronald Reagan Statue – Dixon
- Lincoln Memorial Statue – Dixon
- Abraham Lincoln – Dixon
Whiteside County
Native American Historical Sites
- Sinnissippi Mounds – Sterling
- Albany Mounds State Historic Site – Albany
Sites of Literary & Artistic Significance
- Sterling Murals Tour – Sterling
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Lincoln – Manahan Home Museum – Sterling
- Carriage House & Historical Society Museum – Sterling
- Ronald Reagan Birthplace – Tampico
Historical Markers or Sites
- Lincoln in Sterling – Sterling
- Tampico – Birthplace of Reagan – Tampico
- Prophetstown – Black Hawk War – Prophetstown
- Black Hawk War Campsite– Hillsdale
Henry County
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Henry County Historical Society – Bishop Hill
- Bishop Hill State Historic Site – Bishop Hill
Rock Island County
Native American Historical Sites
- Black Hawk Historic Site – Rock Island
Museums and Historical Visitor Centers
- Rock Island Arsenal Museum – Rock Island
- Rock Island County Historical Society – Moline
- Mississippi River Visitor’s Center – Rock Island
- Hauberg Indian Museum – Rock Island
Historical Markers or Sites
- Rock Island Arsenal – Rock Island
- Fort Armstrong – Rock Island
- Lincoln and the Blackhawk War – Moline
- Illinois in the American Revolution – Moline