Fort Dearborn
sw corner michigan avenue and
wacker drive,
Chicago,
IL
60601
Historic Sites
Built in 1803, Fort Dearborn marked Chicago’s origins as a U.S. military outpost and settlement hub. Though long gone, it’s commemorated by sidewalk markers and a star on Chicago’s flag.
Built in 1803 at the mouth of the Chicago River, Fort Dearborn was the U.S. Army’s westernmost outpost and the first major federal investment in the region. Surrounded by early settlers and traders, it marked the arrival of Europeans in Native American land, sparking periodic conflict. Burned during the War of 1812 and rebuilt in 1816, it was decommissioned in 1840. Today, its location is honored by sidewalk markers and a star on the Chicago flag. Illinois 250
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