August 26, 1805* – On his way north on the Mississippi River, Zebulon Pike and his expedition meet with Chief Black Hawk.
So, very often, lost in the American story, is the epic adventure of the Sauk Tribal Chief – Black Hawk – and his amazing home of Saukenuk.
Located in the Rock River Valley – directly across from today’s Davenport – this thriving city of 6,000 souls was one of the largest Native American communities in North America.
Sadly, by the 1830’s, Black Hawk and his tribe were faced with starvation and needed Saukenuk to survive. The result was the Black Hawk War and an embarrassing black eye for the American westward movement.
*this date is estimated based on other entries in Zebulon Pike’s expedition journal.
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