Hauberg Indian Museum – Rock Island, Illinois
the lodge constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 holds the Hauberg Indian Museum.
The museum features full-size replicas of Sauk winter and summer houses. Dioramas with life-size figures depict activities of the Sauk and Mesquakie people typical of the period 1750 to 1830. Many artifacts, including authentic trade goods, jewelry and domestic items are displayed.
The Black Hawk site was first occupied by Indians as long as 12,000 years ago, and it was continuously inhabited through the Hopewell period, ca. 100 BC to AD 250. Villagers lived within the bounds of the present historic site, and they built burial mounds along the bluffs above the river. Unfortunately, the mounds have been destroyed.
For nearly a century beginning about 1730 the Sauk and Mesquakie (Fox) Indians made their home here. The history shared at the museum of the trials and tribulations of the tribes is well documented and explained at the museum.
From 1882 to 1927 the Watch Tower amusement park occupied the area that would become Black Hawk State Historic Site. Local businessman Bailey Davenport, president and superintendent of the Rock Island and Milan Steam Railway, developed the Watch Tower as a destination for his rail line. Horse-drawn cars were phased out in favor of electric cars in the 1890s, and daily attendance soared as high as 15,000 as people took the streetcar to Watch Tower for concerts, operas, vaudeville, open-air theater, fireworks, bowling, target shooting, outdoor movies (projected on a canvas screen that often flapped in the breeze), balloon ascensions and amusement rides. The Watch Tower boasted a figure-eight roller coaster (the four loops made it the first of its kind west of Chicago) and the memorable Shoot the Chutes toboggan slide, which was invented in Rock Island. Beginning in 1898 the "Chutes" – flat boats with side runners that slid on a greased track – carried riders down the bluff at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. After shooting down the slope, the boat bounced across the waters of the Rock River. Then the "conductor" poled the boat back to the slide an an electric cable hauled it back to the top.
Singing Bird Nature Center, located in the northwest section of the site, serves as an outdoor education center. Many public nature programs are held there throughout the year. One wing of the building is dedicated to the study of native birds. "Pete Peterson’s Bird Nest" features large picture windows looking onto the north woods and nearby bird-feeding stations. Contact site personnel at 309-788-9536 for public hours.
Black Hawk State Historic Site is open year-round from sunrise to 10 P.M. When weather conditions necessitate the closing of the site roads, access is by foot only.
The Hauberg Museum is open from 9:00 A.M. to noon and 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. March through October; 9:00 A.M. to noon and 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. November through February. Closed Monday and Tuesday and some major holidays. Call for holiday schedule.
Guided tours of the museum are given by appointment; phone 309-788-9536. The museum, lodge and restrooms are handicapped accessible.
Annual events at Back Hawk include spring bird and wildflower walks and a September prairie program and field trip. Geology and archeology outings are conducted on a rotating basis each October. Contact the Site Manger for dates and times.
Location: 1510 46th Avenue
Phone: 309-788-0177