By Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6520928
The cache is NOT at the posted location.
Fort Atkinson in Iowa is a historic site that holds significance as a former military outpost established in the early 19th century. Unlike its namesake in Nebraska, Fort Atkinson, Iowa, was constructed by the U.S. Army in 1840 as a frontier post to maintain peace and order between Native American tribes and settlers in the region.
Located near the Turkey River in northeastern Iowa, the fort was strategically positioned to oversee the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) and Sioux (Lakota) tribes who inhabited the area. It served as a crucial center for trade, diplomacy, and military operations during its active years.
Fort Atkinson played a pivotal role in the government's efforts to assert control over the Upper Mississippi region and facilitate the westward expansion of the United States. Its establishment aimed to protect settlers, traders, and travelers along the frontier, as well as to foster relationships with indigenous peoples through treaties and negotiations.
Throughout its existence, the fort experienced periods of tension and conflict with Native American tribes, as well as challenges such as disease and supply shortages. However, it remained operational until 1849 when it was abandoned due to changing military priorities and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the area.
Today, Fort Atkinson State Preserve preserves the site of the former fort, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its history through interpretive exhibits, reconstructed buildings, and scenic trails. The site serves as a reminder of the complex interactions between different cultures and the significant role forts played in shaping the early history of Iowa and the American West.
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One of the oldest roads in the state, Fort Road was originally built by the federal government after Fort Ridgely was completed in 1853-54. Supplies were shipped from Fort Snelling to Traverse des Sioux, then transported by wagon to Fort Ridgely.
Nicollet County Road 5 runs more than 42 miles from its eastern terminus at its intersection with US Highway 169 in St Peter to the Renville County line. Old Fort Road presumably extended from Traverse des Sioux, although the portion running through the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College has been blocked off. Fort Road as an address runs from the western edge of St Peter to the end of CR-5.
In an ideal world, a paved trail would have been installed when the road was refurbished in the early 2010s. This planned geocache trail will have to suffice, but won’t alleviate my anxiety when biking here.