Historic Indian Agency House

The Historic Indian Agency House was built by the U.S. government for John Kinzie in 1832. Kinzie was the Indian Agent to the Ho-Chunk Nation (Winnebago), and he and his wife, Juliette Magill Kinzie, lived at the portage from 1832-1834. Juliette Kinzie would later write of the young couple’s experiences at the portage in her book, Wau-Bun, the “Early Day” in the Northwest.

The Historic Indian Agency House stands on its original spot at the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers in South central Wisconsin. This portage was a crucial link between the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence and Mississippi River watersheds.

The Federal-style house is one of the oldest in Wisconsin and has been outfitted with furnishings and household items appropriate to the period. The visitor center contains a small museum featuring displays about early Wisconsin history, Native American culture and the fur trade in the upper Midwest. Artifacts and graphic displays help to tell the story, and the staff and volunteer docents offer a lively and interesting dialog.

The facility offers events and presentations throughout the season.  Visit their website for details.

The Historic Indian Agency House was restored by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Wisconsin in 1932 and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The Historic Indian Agency House is adjacent to the Portage segment of the Ice Age Trail. The trail head is just across the road and north of our parking lot and follows the old Portage Canal. This 3/4 mile path offers flat, easy hiking, and wildlife abounds along the way.

A nearby attraction is the Fort Winnebago Surgeons’ Quarters.