Speaker series at Indian Agency House

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The Historic Indian Agency House will again host a 4-part speaker series, with one lecture a month from June to September.  The series, entitled “To Arms: Wisconsin and 19^th-Century Military Conflicts,” will explore the participation of Wisconsinites and the impact of our state’s geography on several military engagements of the 1900s.   Each installment of the series, all offered free of charge, will be held on the final Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM.

This 2011 speaker series is the second annual such venture by the Agency House, with last year’s series (focused on the Ho-Chunk experience and their history at the portage) proving to be extremely popular, drawing guest lecturers and visitors from across the state.  This year’s series has the potential to be just as successful, with experts in the field secured for each of the four installments.

The first of the 2011 series will take place Tuesday, June 28. At this time, the charismatic Michael Douglass, a respected and long-time historian who also serves as Executive Director of Prairie du Chien’s Villa Louis (the actual location of Wisconsin’s only War of 1812 battle site), will discuss the War of 1812. 

Although this historical event is often associated with a more Eastern United States- interpretation, Douglass will address how it was actually a turning point in Wisconsin history, marking the end of the British regime in the old Northwest.  Special attention will be paid to the July 1814 Battle of Prairie du Chien, and the associated importance of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway.  In addition, Douglass will highlight the role of Native American participation in the battle. 

The museum and visitor’s center exhibits, always free to the public, will be open 5PM until the lecture begins, and guided tours of the Historic Indian Agency House itself will also be offered for a minimal fee during this time.  Light refreshments will be provided for lecture guests.

Installments two through four of the series will focus on a range of military-related topics, from July’s spotlight on the Black Hawk War, to August’s Civil War-themed discussion, with September closing the series with a discussion of the often-occurring phenomenon of Native American involvement in European battles and wars.

For the second year, the speaker series is free to the public and made largely possible by a generous grant from the Great Circle Foundation, Inc. of East Northport, New York, with additional financial support provided by Forever Yours Jewelry of Portage.

The “To Arms” 2011 lecture series is part of a yearlong Civil War theme, commemorating the 150^th anniversary of this nation-altering era, at the Historic Indian Agency House. Visit www.agencyhouse.org for a full listing of events.