The plaques marking the site of Fort Dearborn, built in 1803, commemorate the fort that stood as an important western military garrison until its destruction in 1812. A second fort was rebuilt in 1816 but was demolished in 1856. The fort, was home to the early settlers of Chicago, many of whom were massacred by the Potawatomi Indians in the 1812 Dearborn Massacre. 148 people were killed in the massacre, near the present-day intersection of 18th and Prairie. While the massacre marked the end of the early settlement in Chicago, by 1816 the fort was rebuilt and a treaty was signed with the Indian tribes.
The plaques, near the Michigan Avenue Bridge and Wacker Drive, provide etched glimpses of what Chicago life was like in the very beginning. It is a short history lesson and a recommended detour from the modern day attractions of Chicago.