Road to Wapatomica

Book excerpt: Looking for history on our streets and street corners, in our parks and even in our backyards, Bob Hunter sets out on a journey across the Midwest in search of memorable moments from the days of the Old Northwest. Forts, trails, trading posts, Native American villages, battlefields, gravesites and landmarks, both remembered and forgotten, are all on his radar, as are places where acts of heroism, murder, butchery and even massacre took place. He tackles the job with humor, curiosity and skepticism, tries to separate legend from fact, and introduces readers to the people he encounters along the way.Readers will discover: How the famous Fallen Timbers battlefield was discovered a quarter of a mile away from the spot that had been celebrated as its location for two centuries.How and where famous Ottawa chief Pontiac was murdered and how his burial place has long been a topic of dispute.How the most important early town and eventual capital in the Illinois country was swallowed up when the Mississippi River changed its course. How the Iroquois got their name on a point in northern Michigan, hundreds of miles away from their traditional hunting ground.How a poor translation of French written by a Jesuit missionary created the erroneous impression that Jean Nicolet was searching a route to China when he landed in Green Bay and also led to a well-known painting.How the well-known Indiana home of a future president, once site of negotiations with famous Shawnee leader Tecumseh, was nearly torn down to serve the purposes of a local water company.How a famous early Cincinnati resident was responsible for historians misidentifying the location of Fort Washington for 150 years. How early French explorers once trudged through mud and leeches on a portage that stood not far from Chicago's Midway airport.And many more. . . Readers can simply enjoy reading of the author's experiences or use this historical travelogue as a guide to exploration of these places at their own pace. Regardless of their preference, they are guaranteed to take a series of rewarding trips back in time.