Places for Summer 2022 Fort Madison
Courtesy of Jordan Reynolds
City of Fort Madison
receiving rations from Saint Louis and not
Road also acts as a gateway to Iowa’s Historic
Fort Madison is arguably one of the most
being able to forage outside of the fort walls,
Hills Scenic-by-Way that passes through The
historic communities in Iowa. Its namesake,
the decision was made to abandon the fort,
Villages of Van Buren and surrounding com-
Fort Madison, the first U.S. military establish-
burning it in their wake as they escaped
munities. With local flair such as rodeos, music
ment in the upper Mississippi River Valley,
under the cloak of darkness, earning the area
festivals, county fairs, strawberry, watermelon
means that it is the location of Iowa’s only
the nickname of “Potowonok” a Native
and sweet corn festivals, you should come and
military battlefield, as well as making its his-
American term for ring of fire.
toric downtown the location of the oldest
Becoming a territorial city in 1838, Fort
military cemetery in the state of Iowa.
Madison would become home to The Iowa
experience Fort Madison and all that the State of Iowa has to offer.
Jackson, Michigan
Twenty-two soldiers died there and are
Territorial Prison. This frontier prison would
buried in the vicinity of the ruins of the orig-
remain operational until 2015, when the state
Jackson’s perfect central location at the
inal fort.
would close the oldest continually used pen-
crossroads of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula
U.S. soldiers followed the Mississippi River
itentiary in the United States. This old prison,
makes it a motorcoach-friendly destination
to this location in 1808, honoring the 1804
along with Old Fort Madison, The Santa Fe
ready for visitors at any time of the year. Jack-
Treaty of Saint Louis. These soldiers would
Depot and 18 different districts and structures
son has been described as a smaller town
construct a Factory Outpost along the Mis-
are on The National Park Service’s list of His-
with a big city feel. Its colorful attractions are
sissippi that would stand at this location until
toric Places.
perfect for your next group excursion.
the fall of 1813, when the U.S. troops would
Fort Madison offers unique shops and din-
Learn Jackson's pivotal role in the Under-
burn the location as they retreated down-
ing venues, as well as small eclectic museums
ground Railroad as your tour downtown Jack-
stream. The War of 1812 had taken hold. Not
and art galleries. Its location on the Great River
son and visit the historical locations signifi-
8 • Bus Tours Magazine / September, 2021
