'Historic Waterways' Summary

In the summer of 1887, Reuben Gold Thwaites embarked on a six-hundred-mile canoeing journey down the Rock, Fox, and Wisconsin Rivers. His goal was to explore the historic waterways of the Midwest and to document his experiences for future generations. Thwaites's journey took him through some of the most scenic and historically significant areas of Wisconsin and Illinois. He encountered Native American settlements, fur trading posts, and Civil War battlefields. He also marveled at the natural beauty of the rivers, which were lined with towering forests, rolling hills, and cascading waterfalls. Thwaites's book is a valuable record of his journey, and it provides a glimpse into the history and ecology of the Midwest in the late nineteenth century.