Rock Island City (Illinois)

Title

Rock Island City (Illinois)

Description

Total view of Rock Island City in Illinois, USA.

ca. 1845

Artist

Anonymus

Historical Description

The area of today's Rock Island was inhabited by the Fox and Sauk Indian tribes until the beginning of the 19th century and was the home of the famous Chief Black Hawk. After the British-American War, the American Army built Fort Armstrong on an island in the Mississippi River, which was named Rock Island. One of the first settlers was sutler George Davenport, who settled on the north shore of the island. It was in his home that the town plans for Rock Island and Davenport, which took its name from him, were later created. The town benefited from its location on the Mississippi River and quickly became an important goods transfer point. Most of the goods traffic was handled by steamboats. By 1854, Rock Island was connected to the railroad system and the first railroad reached the town. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built the first railroad bridge over the Mississippi River in Rock Island in 1856, which the steamboat operators did not like, as it greatly complicated navigation of the river in the area of the bridge. Between 1862 and 1886, a large-scale United States Army arsenal was built on Rock Island, the Rock Island Arsenal.