Black Hawk State Historic Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Illinois History — Site of the 1832 Black Hawk War along the Rock River — where Sauk leader Black Hawk fought to reclaim ancestral lands. Abraham Lincoln served as a militia captain here — his only military service! Rock Island, IL.

Visitor Information

About Black Hawk

Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island preserves 208 acres overlooking the Rock River at a location sacred to the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples for centuries. The site is named for Black Hawk, the Sauk war chief who led the 1832 Black Hawk War — the last Native American conflict east of the Mississippi. The Hauberg Museum interprets Native American and frontier history.

Things to Do

Visiting the Hauberg Museum (Native American exhibits), hiking the wooded trails along the bluffs, birdwatching, picnicking, and reflecting on the complex history of Native American displacement. The Rock River views are scenic year-round. Free admission.

About Black Hawk

Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island preserves the site of a Sauk and Meskwaki village — the homeland of Black Hawk, the legendary war chief who led resistance against American expansion in 1832. The Black Hawk War was one of the last Native American conflicts east of the Mississippi. Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis both served (on the American side) in this brief but significant war.

Things to Do

Visiting the Hauberg Indian Museum, hiking the wooded trails, learning about Sauk and Meskwaki culture, reflecting on the Black Hawk War and its consequences, and picnicking in the forested park.

Insider Tips

Hauberg Museum: The site preserves the ancestral homeland of the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples along the Rock River. Pro tip: The Hauberg Indian Museum inside the Lodge tells the story of Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War of 1832 — Abraham Lincoln served as a militia captain in this conflict. Nature trails: The wooded bluffs above the Rock River offer scenic hiking with river views.

Best Time to Visit

Fall: Spectacular hardwood foliage on the bluffs. Spring: Wildflowers and migratory birds. Summer: Cool forest trails. Year-round: The museum is open most of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Black Hawk?

Black Hawk (Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak) was a Sauk leader who fought to reclaim his people’s homeland in Illinois in 1832. The brief war ended in defeat and forced removal west of the Mississippi. Black Hawk’s autobiography (1833) remains one of the most important Native American narratives.

Wildlife & Nature

Black Hawk State Historic Site — overlooking the Rock River in Rock Island — preserves the village site of the Sauk and Meskwaki (Fox) peoples and interprets the Black Hawk War of 1832 — one of the last Native American conflicts east of the Mississippi. Chief Black Hawk’s resistance to forced removal inspired one of the most dramatic episodes in Midwest frontier history. A young Abraham Lincoln served as a militia captain during the conflict. The site’s Hauberg Indian Museum (1939) occupies a CCC-built lodge. The 208-acre park’s oak-hickory forest along the Rock River supports diverse wildlife — white-tailed deer, red foxes, and wild turkeys. The Rock River corridor is a regionally important migration route for songbirds.

Nearby Attractions

Quad Cities (Rock Island, Moline, Davenport, Bettendorf) straddle the Mississippi. Rock Island Arsenal — an active US Army facility on an island in the Mississippi — has the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. John Deere Pavilion in Moline showcases agricultural equipment. Figge Art Museum in Davenport features Midwestern art. Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley. Hennepin Canal Parkway offers 100+ miles of biking and hiking. Mississippi River bald eagle viewing peaks in winter.