Black Hawk Tree facts for kids
The Black Hawk Tree was a famous cottonwood tree in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. People told stories that the Native American leader Black Hawk once hid in it. These stories say he used the tree to escape people who were chasing him. One story says this happened in the 1790s. Another story says it was after the Black Hawk War in 1832 and involved a young officer named Jefferson Davis. Most historians believe Black Hawk probably never hid in the tree. However, he was likely in Prairie du Chien after the war. A big windstorm knocked the tree down in the 1920s.
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The Legend of the Black Hawk Tree
People in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin loved a story about the Black Hawk Tree. They said that the famous Sauk leader, Black Hawk, once hid in this large cottonwood tree.
Two Versions of the Story
There are two main versions of the legend:
- The Early Escape: One story says Black Hawk hid in the tree during the 1790s. He was trying to get away from soldiers who were at Fort Crawford. Black Hawk later became well-known for leading his people, the Sauk and Fox tribes, back into Illinois. This action led to the Black Hawk War in 1832.
- The Post-War Escape: Another story tells of Black Hawk's escape after the Black Hawk War. He had been captured and was being escorted by a young officer named Jefferson Davis. The story says Black Hawk managed to get away and hid among the tree's branches. Even when this story was printed in a newspaper in 1922, some people already thought it was just a myth.
The Real Story of the Tree
Most historians agree that the legend of Black Hawk hiding in the tree is probably not true. Black Hawk was in Prairie du Chien, but it was after the main battle of the Black Hawk War in August 1832. By then, he had already surrendered. This means he couldn't have hidden in the tree to escape.
Why the Tree Was Special
Even if the story wasn't true, the Black Hawk Tree was very special. It was a large, unique tree in an area where many trees had been cut down for wood. People loved to visit the tree. They would drive by in their cars, and many would stop to look at it.
A local newspaper article from 1906 said the tree was likely planted in the 1840s. This was after Black Hawk would have been in the area. The article still said the tree deserved to be important because of its name and the unfair treatment Black Hawk faced.
The Tree's Enduring Legacy
By 1922, the tree was getting old and starting to decline. It used to have two main trunks, but by then, only one was left. In the 1920s, a strong windstorm finally destroyed the Black Hawk Tree.
Even after it fell, the spot where the tree stood remained important. The road next to it, once called Bluff Street, was renamed Black Hawk Avenue. Today, a piece of wood that people say came from the Black Hawk Tree is kept in the museum at Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien. The Black Hawk Tree is still the most famous tree in the Prairie du Chien area and a big part of its local history.
