by Maurice Champagne, class of 2004
Photographs from the author
Fort Dearborn
Docents starting a tour from the CAC typically comment on Fort Dearborn. Metal markers on the pavement at Michigan and Wacker define the outline of the fort,
The CAC website has both a drawing of Fort Dearborn and Captain John Whistler’s original layout.
Fort Wayne
Drawings are helpful, but they can’t provide the real look and feel of the fort. In June, 2023, my wife and I visited Fort Wayne. In 1974-76, the city of Fort Wayne rebuilt the fort on then-Major John Whistler’s 1815-16 design. Whistler was the grandfather of the well-known artist, John McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is named after “Mad” Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War General who led his men fearlessly, hence the nickname. While General Wayne built the fifth fort at this location in 1794, it was the first American one. The French built the first three forts and the British built the fourth. The federal government built the eighth and last fort on this site in 1815-16. It was designed by Major John Whistler, the same officer who designed Chicago’s Fort Dearborn.
Assuming a similarity between Forts Dearborn and Wayne, here are some vacation photos that show what Fort Dearborn probably looked like. Maybe your mind’s eye can conjure up an image outside the doors of our CAC!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CLICK HERE for more stories on The Bridge.
Thanks, Maurice!
Another interesting aside about the Whistler family is that they narrowly escaped an Indian “raid”. The baby, who became John McNeill Whistler’s father, was bundled onto a boat with his mother (Whistler’s grandmother) and travelled to a fort in Michigan. This replica is fascinating! Thanks, Maurice, for this information!
The Whistler connection is great. Thanks for your research!
Thanks, Maurice! My Chicago Treasures tourees typically are curious to further explore the topic of Ft Dearborn.
Maurice … great research. I talk about Whistler (and the grandson’s mother) when introducing WTT. The embedded bronze plaques help define both iterations of Fort Dearborn. There is another historic plaque located at 18th street and Calumet Ave that denotes the location of the fate of those leaving Ft. Dearborn heading to Ft. Wayne. on August 15, 1812 during the war with Great Britain. They never made it to the Fort that as you point out seems to be very similar to what they left behind.