Military Ridge Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Raube Road Site
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Raube Road, a preserved segment of the first Wisconsin military road, constructed in the 1830s
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| Location | Wisconsin, United States |
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| Built | 1835 |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000589 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1992 |
The Military Ridge Road was a very important road built by the U.S. Army in 1835. It connected major forts and towns across what would become Wisconsin. This included Green Bay, Wisconsin, Fond du Lac, Fort Winnebago (near Portage), Madison, Dodgeville, and Fort Crawford (near Prairie du Chien).
This road was the first time the government planned how people would travel across the land. It helped Wisconsin, first as a territory and later as a state, create its own system of roads. Parts of the original road still exist today. These historical sections are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their importance to history.
Building the Military Road
The idea for the first military road in Wisconsin Territory started in 1832. The United States Congress, which is like the country's main law-making group, approved the money for it. Construction began in 1835 and finished by 1837.
This road was built to connect three important forts. It started near Fort Howard in Green Bay. From there, it went south along the eastern side of Lake Winnebago. Then, it turned southwest towards Fort Winnebago, which was near what is now Portage and the Wisconsin River. Finally, the road looped even further southwest to Fort Crawford on the Mississippi River, close to today's Prairie du Chien.
The road was not always easy to travel on. During wet seasons, parts of it could be underwater. There were also tall tree stumps, about a foot high, that made travel difficult. One history book from 1973 described the road as "little more than a lane." It was a path through forests and prairies. Streams had small bridges, and swamps had ditches to help drainage.
Even though it was often rough and sometimes impossible to use, the road was very important. It allowed people to travel across Wisconsin from east to west. Settlers who moved to the area helped keep the road in working order. The total cost to build and maintain this 234-mile (377 km) road was $12,000. This was a lot of money back then!
What's Left Today?
Today, you can still follow the general path of the old Military Ridge Road. Modern highways like Wisconsin Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 151 follow parts of the route from Green Bay to Fond du Lac. Then, Wisconsin State Highways 68 and 33 lead west to Madison. From Madison, U.S. Highway 18 continues west along the historic path.
You might even see "Military Road" as a street name in some towns. These local streets often run parallel to the current highways. The Military Ridge State Trail is a popular path for biking and walking. It actually runs over a section of the original road's route.
A special part of the original road, about 123-foot (37 m) long, is still preserved in Fond du Lac County. This piece of history is on land that Albert and Martha Raube bought in 1911. This specific section, known as Raube Road, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Other reminders of the road's past include Military Avenue in Green Bay and Military Road in Fond du Lac. Also, Wisconsin Highway 55 east of Lake Winnebago is sometimes called Military Road in the towns it passes through.
