Preserving Our Past For Our Future
keeping fort madison’s history alive
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Preserving Our Past For Our Future
keeping fort madison’s history alive
donate
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Volunteer
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Help us save this historic fort, please.
The Old Fort Madison Preservation, Inc. (OFMP) is a non-profit organization created to bring a renewal to American’s first military fort built on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1808.
Our vision is to provide a memorable portal to the past, present, and future of a historic place within a modern multipurpose facility promoting Fort Madison’s unique history to all ages.
Our goals for the fort’s future
Build a state-of-the-art venue for learning and celebration.
Incorporate multimedia to share exciting and informative learning opportunities for all ages.
Create a clean comfortable environment to encourage visitors return trips.
Historical Overview
Following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, St. Louis became the military headquarters for the vast new wilderness.
The government wanted to establish military-supported trading posts to control the commerce with explorers and Native American tribes to help make them more dependent on American goods.
First Lieutenant Alpha Kingsley was tasked to establish a post at the mouth of the Des Moines River but decided on a location about 10 miles further north. He arrived there in November 1808.
The government trading post sat outside the stockade (wall) and was operated by a contracted civilian known as a factor. The factor, known as John Johnson, was also an Indian agent. Thus, the trading posts became known as a Factory.
The post, originally called Fort Bellevue, was renamed for the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. The first military stationed there consisted of 60 men of the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Regiment and were crowded inside a five-cornered fort that measured only 120 by 160 feet.
By the start of the War of 1812 between the United States and England, food supplies because difficult to ship upriver from St. Louis, and by 1813, starvation became a real and persistent threat. It was decided by the post commander to destroy the fort so it would not become useful for the British or Indian tribes still at war with the United States. Under the cover of darkness, the fort was set ablaze and the soldiers escaped in river boats and headed back to St. Louis.
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Volunteer and get involved
We need your help to keep history alive.
Longtime Tourism Favorite
The fort continues to be the most popular tourist location in the city. One American Cruise Lines riverboat passenger recently proclaimed that the fort was “the best stop between St. Louis and St. Paul.”
Over the years, the fort has suffered the effects of weather and life along the Mississippi River, including the city’s ability to maintain financial support to sustain quality operations. For nearly its entire existence since it was rebuilt, the fort provided reenactments, live-fire demonstrations of canons and other black powder weapons, presented by historians and interpreters for only eight to nine months yearly.
1808 Look with 21st Century Convenience
With renewed financial support, we will be able to rebuild the three structures removed by the city over a year ago due to outdated conditions. The new version targeted for a mid-2026 opening will look like its original 1800s appeal but contain modern amenities found in new museums and tourist centers — and operate year round.
Your Contribution Will Make a Difference
And you can enjoy knowing you helped restore a real piece of America’s past.
Donate now to preserve our history
21st Century Welcome Center Convenience
The new Fort Madison “Factory” Welcome Center will be an incredible improvement over the original 1800s look and feel. The new look will be essentially the same (log structure) but the feel will delight visitors with two floors of air conditioning, colorful multimedia digital kiosk presentations, large viewing screens, meeting spaces, three ADA-compliant restrooms, and an elevator. Of course, there’ll be that amazing big window view of the Mississippi River!
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About Fort Madison
1808
Fort Madison, named for President James Madison, was built as a government “factory” (trading post) due to rising tensions with Great Britain and the need to move closer to the Sac, Fox, Ioway, and Dakota Indian tribes. It was also intended to make the Indians dependent on government trade goods and eliminate whiskey runners and corrupt entrepreneurs.
During its early years, the fort was a popular trading location and became one of the highest volume factories in the government system. Tribes exchanged fur, lead, tallow, beeswax, and bear oil for manufactured items such as axes, animal traps, hoes, knives, firearms, gunpowder, whiskey, spices, and other materials. A blacksmith was present to fix traps and guns for the Sac and Fox since they never learned how to work iron. The shop was outfitted with a large forge and bellows as well as an anvil and vise.
The War of 1812
The war against Great Britain eventually spread to the region and the fort was attacked by the Ho-Chunk and Menominee tribal members. The attacked included small groups with Chief Black Hawk among them. Equally damaging to the fort was the continued reduction of food supplies, and by 1813, starvation and continued Indian attacks led to the abandonment and destruction of the fort.
1838
The town of Fort Madison was incorporated by special act passed at the second session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature and approved on January 1, 1838. By the early 1900s, the call for rebuilding the fort began but was not accomplished until the mid 1980s with volunteer labor from the Iowa State Penitentiary.
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