Found: The Peace Pipe, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: THE PEACE PIPE. When white men first explored this region, they found it inhabited by several Indian tribes, one of which was the Winnebago. A remnant of this tribe is still found in the Dells country" copyright by H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. genuine Curteich-Chicago, C.T. American Art post card, circa 1908 (reprinted 1930s)

Found: UNITED STATES FUR FACTORY - 1 816. Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. This diorama portrays the fur factory established in Prairie du Chien in 1816 with John W. Johnson as factor and John P. Gates as interpreter. These fur factories or stations were erected at strategic points. Here the U.S. Government supplied a side range of goods to the Indians and received from them furs, feathers, lead and maple sugar. Color by J. A. Fagan, Fagan Publishing Co., Madison, Wis., circa 1970.

Novel portrayals of Wisconsin Native Americans date mainly to the late 1800s to mid-20th century until a reframing of the issues at last bubbled up in the white American consciousness. Driven from their homeland of Wisconsin literally in railroad cards, many natives returned on foot to the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin that had provided sustenance for generations. The "Peace Pipe" card text above refers to the "tribes" as a "remnant....still found in the Dells Country." The diorama illustrates natives receiving a "wide range of goods" (steel tips for arrows, cooking utensils, guns) for furs, feathers, lead, and maple sugar. The 21st century observer is left knowing it was not a fair trade.