Tippecanoe Battlefield Park
Encyclopedia
The Tippecanoe Battlefield Park preserves the location of the Battle of Tippecanoe
fought on November 7, 1811.
The 16 acres (6.5 ha) site of the battle was deeded to the State of Indiana
by John Tipton, a veteran of the fight, on November 7, 1836, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle. The site was used for a number of major political rallies during its earlier years, those most significant being on May 29, 1840 in favor of William Henry Harrison
's bid for the White House
attended by 30,000 people.
The location was attracting visitors by the 1850s, and the battlefield was bordered by the Louisville, New Albany, & Salem Railroad during that decade. A refreshment stand was built adjacent to the site to accommodate visitors, and this land was later purchased by the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church and used for the Battle Ground Collegiate Institute and later for a Methodist youth camp. Despite interest in the location for the sesquicentennial of the battle in 1961 the camp was abandoned in 1971 and the location was neglected. It was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1960.
Local residents acquired the Methodist property upon its closure, and created a museum in the camp's lodge. The citizen's group merged with the Tippecanoe County Historical Society in 1990 which took over operation of the museum. The museum was extensively renovated in 1995.
The Battlefield Monument was ceded to the Tippecanoe County Park Board in 1972.
Tippecanoe Battlefield Park is operated by the Tippecanoe County Park Board and the Battlefield Museum is operated by the Tippecanoe County Historical Society.
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
fought on November 7, 1811.
The 16 acres (6.5 ha) site of the battle was deeded to the State of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
by John Tipton, a veteran of the fight, on November 7, 1836, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle. The site was used for a number of major political rallies during its earlier years, those most significant being on May 29, 1840 in favor of William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
's bid for the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
attended by 30,000 people.
The location was attracting visitors by the 1850s, and the battlefield was bordered by the Louisville, New Albany, & Salem Railroad during that decade. A refreshment stand was built adjacent to the site to accommodate visitors, and this land was later purchased by the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Church and used for the Battle Ground Collegiate Institute and later for a Methodist youth camp. Despite interest in the location for the sesquicentennial of the battle in 1961 the camp was abandoned in 1971 and the location was neglected. It was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1960.
Local residents acquired the Methodist property upon its closure, and created a museum in the camp's lodge. The citizen's group merged with the Tippecanoe County Historical Society in 1990 which took over operation of the museum. The museum was extensively renovated in 1995.
The Battlefield Monument was ceded to the Tippecanoe County Park Board in 1972.
Recreational opportunities
- Hiking (including access to the Wabash Heritage TrailWabash Heritage TrailThe Wabash Heritage Trail is a hiking trail running from Fort Ouiatenon to the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park in Battle Ground, Indiana. It is approximately long and passes along the cities of West Lafayette and Lafayette, Indiana.- External links :*...
). - Nature Center
- Battlefield Monument
- Museum
Tippecanoe Battlefield Park is operated by the Tippecanoe County Park Board and the Battlefield Museum is operated by the Tippecanoe County Historical Society.
See also
- Battle Ground, IndianaBattle Ground, IndianaBattle Ground is a town in Tippecanoe Township, Tippecanoe County in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,334 at the 2010 census. It is near the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe....
- John PurdueJohn PurdueJohn Purdue was a famous industrialist based in Lafayette, Indiana and the primary original benefactor of Purdue University.-Early life:...
- Battle of Tippecanoe Outdoor DramaBattle of Tippecanoe Outdoor DramaThe Battle of Tippecanoe Outdoor Drama was a Summer outdoor historical drama held in Battle Ground, IN in the Summers of 1989 and 1990. The drama was held at a outdoor amphitheater specially constructed for the drama, renamed the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater after the drama folded in 1991...