Reuben Gold Thwaites, author of “Historic Waterways—Six Hundred Miles of Canoeing Down the Rock, Fox, and Wisconsin Rivers” (1887), traveled how many miles by canoe?
- 400 miles
- 600 miles
- 800 miles
- 1000 miles
Correct Answer: 600 miles
Correct Answer Explanation: The book’s title describes the length of the journey.
What two sources feed the Rock River?
- The Wisconsin River and the Fox River
- Lake Koshkonong and the four lakes at Madison
- Lake Michigan and Lake Superior
- The Mississippi River and the Illinois River
Correct Answer: Lake Koshkonong and the four lakes at Madison
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites details the geography of the Rock River in the book, with the sources as one of the early points of his journey.
Which of these rivers was not explored by Joliet and Marquette?
- The Fox River
- The Rock River
- The Wisconsin River
- The Mississippi River
Correct Answer: The Rock River
Correct Answer Explanation: The Fox and Wisconsin rivers were explored in 1673, and the Rock River is not specifically mentioned in Thwaites’ book as having been explored by Joliet and Marquette.
What tribe inhabited the area around Fort Winnebago?
- The Sac tribe
- The Mascoutin tribe
- The Winnebago tribe
- The Fox tribe
Correct Answer: The Winnebago tribe
Correct Answer Explanation: Fort Winnebago was built in 1828-29. Thwaites notes that the Winnebago tribe inhabited the area.
Which of the following was NOT a challenge Thwaites encountered during his journey?
- Navigating shallows
- Portaging around dams
- Encountering barbed-wire fences
- Dealing with a large amount of river traffic
Correct Answer: Dealing with a large amount of river traffic
Correct Answer Explanation: The book details the challenges of canoeing in a time before the heavy river traffic of today, and specifically mentions navigating shallows, portaging around dams, and encountering barbed-wire fences.
The Mascoutin tribe was displaced by what tribe?
- The Winnebago tribe
- The Sac tribe
- The Fox tribe
- The Sioux tribe
Correct Answer: The Fox tribe
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites mentions the displacement of the Mascoutin tribe, a prominent early tribe in the region, by the Fox tribe.
What were the names of the two boats navigating the upper Fox River in 1887?
- “The T. S. Chittenden” and “The Ellen Hardy”
- “The Belle of Wisconsin” and “The Lady of the Lake”
- “The Eagle” and “The Swift”
- “The Wanderer” and “The Explorer”
Correct Answer: “The T. S. Chittenden” and “The Ellen Hardy”
Correct Answer Explanation: The book discusses the limited amount of river traffic at the time and mentions these two boats.
Which of these settlements was founded on the site of an old Menomonee town and cemetery?
- The village of Butte des Morts
- The town of Depere
- The village of Prairie du Sac
- The village of Marquette
Correct Answer: The village of Butte des Morts
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites describes the village of Butte des Morts, translating to “Hill of the Dead”, and its history as the site of a Native American town and cemetery.
Which of these figures was a first lieutenant in the original garrison at Fort Winnebago?
- Black Hawk
- Jefferson Davis
- Augustin Grignon
- Eleazar Williams
Correct Answer: Jefferson Davis
Correct Answer Explanation: The book notes that Jefferson Davis, later known as the president of the Confederate States of America, was a first lieutenant in the original garrison at Fort Winnebago.
Which of these villages was once a major village for the Sac tribe?
- The village of Prairie du Sac
- The village of Sauk City
- The village of Montello
- The village of Marquette
Correct Answer: The village of Prairie du Sac
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites describes the village of Prairie du Sac and its history as a Sac village.
What river is notoriously difficult to navigate due to shifting sandbanks and currents?
- The Rock River
- The Fox River
- The Wisconsin River
- The Mississippi River
Correct Answer: The Wisconsin River
Correct Answer Explanation: The book details the unique challenges of navigating the Wisconsin River, its sandbanks, and its currents.
What was the purpose of the Fox-Wisconsin river improvement project?
- To create a system of locks and dams for controlling the flow of water
- To improve the navigability of the rivers for large steam vessels
- To provide a more reliable source of drinking water for the surrounding cities
- To create new recreational opportunities for boaters and anglers
Correct Answer: To improve the navigability of the rivers for large steam vessels
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites details the effort to make the rivers navigable for large vessels, the reasons why it was not successful, and the impact of this effort.
Which of these villages was once the site of a shot tower?
- The village of Butte des Morts
- The village of Dekorra
- The village of Sauk City
- The village of Marquette
Correct Answer: The village of Dekorra
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites discusses the history of the village of Dekorra and its former significance as a center for lead mining and the production of shot.
Which of these towns was originally called “Rapide des Peres”?
- The town of Depere
- The town of Kaukauna
- The town of Omro
- The town of Oshkosh
Correct Answer: The town of Depere
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites describes the village of Depere and its history as a site for early settlements and missions.
Which of these villages was once a major distribution point for the fur trade?
- The village of Prairie du Sac
- The village of Sauk City
- The village of Montello
- The town of Green Bay
Correct Answer: The town of Green Bay
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites mentions Green Bay’s historic role in the fur trade as a major distribution point for the trade for over 100 years.
Black Hawk’s trail during his retreat from the Black Hawk War passed through which of these rivers?
- The Rock River
- The Fox River
- The Wisconsin River
- The Mississippi River
Correct Answer: The Wisconsin River
Correct Answer Explanation: The book describes the Black Hawk War and Black Hawk’s journey, noting that his trail passed through the Wisconsin River area.
What was the name of the first white man to set foot on Wisconsin soil?
- Joliet
- Marquette
- Nicolet
- Thwaites
Correct Answer: Nicolet
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites details Nicolet’s travels, noting that he was the first white man to explore the region.
What tribe captured Black Hawk during his retreat from the Black Hawk War?
- The Mascoutin tribe
- The Fox tribe
- The Winnebago tribe
- The Sac tribe
Correct Answer: The Winnebago tribe
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites describes Black Hawk’s capture by the Winnebago tribe and his death a few years later in captivity.
What is the approximate length of the Wisconsin River?
- 145 miles
- 287 miles
- 175 miles
- 100 miles
Correct Answer: 145 miles
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate length of the Wisconsin River.
What is the approximate population of the village of Montello, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 1,000
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites mentions the approximate population of Montello.
What is the approximate population of the village of Marquette, Wisconsin?
- 300
- 5,000
- 1,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 300
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Marquette.
What is the approximate population of the town of Omro, Wisconsin?
- 1,500
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 1,500
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Omro.
What is the approximate population of the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 22,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Oshkosh.
What is the approximate population of the city of Neenah, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 10,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Neenah.
What is the approximate population of the city of Appleton, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 15,000
Correct Answer: 15,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Appleton.
What is the approximate population of the town of Kaukauna, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 15,000
Correct Answer: 5,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Kaukauna.
What is the approximate population of the town of Depere, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 5,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Depere.
What is the approximate population of the village of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 450
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 450
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Prairie du Sac.
What is the approximate population of the village of Sauk City, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 450
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 1,000
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Sauk City.
What is the approximate population of the village of Muscoda, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 500
- 450
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 500
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Muscoda.
What is the approximate population of the village of Wauzeka, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 500
- 450
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 500
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Wauzeka.
What is the approximate population of the village of Port Andrew, Wisconsin?
- 1,000
- 500
- 50
- 22,000
Correct Answer: 50
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate population of Port Andrew.
What is the approximate length of the Rock River?
- 145 miles
- 287 miles
- 175 miles
- 100 miles
Correct Answer: 287 miles
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate length of the Rock River.
What is the approximate length of the Fox River?
- 145 miles
- 287 miles
- 175 miles
- 100 miles
Correct Answer: 175 miles
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the approximate length of the Fox River.
What is the name for a French-Canadian fur trader and guide?
- Bourgeois
- Courier de bois
- Engagé
- Voyageur
Correct Answer: Voyageur
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “voyageurs”, French Canadian fur traders and guides, and details their role in the early exploration and development of the region.
What is the name for an employee of a fur trading company?
- Bourgeois
- Courier de bois
- Engagé
- Voyageur
Correct Answer: Engagé
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “engagés”, employees of fur trading companies, and details their role in the fur trade.
What is the name for a woods runner or messenger?
- Bourgeois
- Courier de bois
- Engagé
- Voyageur
Correct Answer: Courier de bois
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “couriers de bois”, woods runners or messengers, and details their role in the fur trade.
What is the name for a fur trade manager or leader?
- Bourgeois
- Courier de bois
- Engagé
- Voyageur
Correct Answer: Bourgeois
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “bourgeois”, fur trade managers or leaders, and details their role in the fur trade.
What is a “traut-line”?
- A type of fishing net used for catching large fish
- A fishing line with multiple baited hooks
- A type of canoe used for navigating shallow waters
- A type of shelter used by voyageurs during their journeys
Correct Answer: A fishing line with multiple baited hooks
Correct Answer Explanation: Thwaites discusses the “traut-line”, a type of fishing line with multiple baited hooks, used by people living along the rivers.
What is a “live-box”?
- A type of container used for transporting fish alive
- A type of shelter used by voyageurs during their journeys
- A type of canoe used for navigating shallow waters
- A type of fishing net used for catching large fish
Correct Answer: A type of container used for transporting fish alive
Correct Answer Explanation: The book discusses the “live-box”, a type of container used for transporting fish alive, used by people living along the rivers.
What is a “slough”?
- A type of shelter used by voyageurs during their journeys
- A marshy area or swamp
- A type of canoe used for navigating shallow waters
- A type of fishing net used for catching large fish
Correct Answer: A marshy area or swamp
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “slough”, a marshy area or swamp, and details its characteristics and location.
What is a “bayou”?
- A marshy area or swamp
- A creek or inlet, often marshy
- A type of canoe used for navigating shallow waters
- A type of shelter used by voyageurs during their journeys
Correct Answer: A creek or inlet, often marshy
Correct Answer Explanation: The book mentions the “bayou”, a creek or inlet, often marshy, and details its characteristics and location.
What is a “sprit-sail”?
- A sail that extends forward of the mast
- A sail that extends aft of the mast
- A type of oar used for propelling a canoe
- A type of fishing net used for catching large fish
Correct Answer: A sail that extends forward of the mast
Correct Answer Explanation: The book discusses the use of sails for navigation and mentions the “sprit-sail”.
What is a “keel”?
- A type of oar used for propelling a canoe
- A structural element on the bottom of a boat that provides stability
- A type of sail used for propelling a canoe
- A type of fishing net used for catching large fish
Correct Answer: A structural element on the bottom of a boat that provides stability
Correct Answer Explanation: The book describes the elements of canoes and mentions the “keel” as the structural element at the bottom of the boat.