Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters, barrack in Portage, Wisconsin, United States
Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters is a wooden building in Portage that served as a home and workspace for army doctors starting in 1824. Next to it stands a small schoolhouse from about 1850 where local children received their education.
The building was constructed in 1824 after Fort Winnebago was established as a military post between Green Bay and Prairie du Chien. The site began as a fur trader's cabin and later served until 1845 as an important station for securing river routes.
The site reveals how army surgeons and their families lived during the early settlement of Wisconsin. The simple wooden furnishings and medical tools show what healthcare looked like before modern medicine arrived.
The site is easy to reach by car via Highway 33 near the Fox River and Portage Canal. Guided tours run mainly from May through October, and the grounds are accessible for walking around at your own pace.
An interesting detail connects the site to Jefferson Davis, a soldier who served at Fort Winnebago after graduating from West Point and carved furniture still visible in the building today. These personal items link visitors to a lesser-known chapter of American military history.
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