Historic Indian Agency House, Portage: Hours, Address, Historic Indian Agency House Reviews: 4.5/5
Historic Indian Agency House
Historic Indian Agency House
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
39 within 3 miles
Portage Asian Cuisine
56
1 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Japanese • Sushi
Trail's Lounge Supper Club
50
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Tamarack Pizza
87
1 mi$ • American • Bar • Pizza
Craig's Popcorn Corner
61
1.1 mi$ • Dessert • American
A&W Restaurant
23
1 mi$ • American
Pizza Hut
13
1 miPizza
Portage Cafe
42
1.1 mi$ • American • Cafe • Diner
Red Apple Restaurant
72
1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Diner • Vegetarian Friendly
1873 Grille
78
1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
The Ball Room
22
1 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Pub
Attractions
7 within 6 miles
Portage WWII History Museum
155
1.1 miMilitary Museums • History Museums
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Historic Site
16
0.6 miHistory Museums
Portage Family Skate Park
5
1.1 miState Parks • Parks
Portage Historical Society Museum at the Portage
6
1.2 miHistory Museums
Cascade Mountain
209
Ski & Snowboard Areas
Mercantile
1.1 miAntique Shops
The Wisconsin American Legion Museum and Learning Center
2.1 miMilitary Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
25 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
7
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
1
tank1050
Wescosville, PA4,459 contributions
The exhibits were really good and a lot of period items. Unfortunately for our group, our guide was a bit inexperienced and couldn't answer all of our questions, though he did know most of them. We were there in an off time and maybe the more experienced ones work busier times. The house contains lots of period furniture, but what we went for was to learn more about the service performed by the Indian agent and the Native Americans. Here it was quite informative and they had quite a few exhibits pertaining to the many Native American tribes in the North. It is a beautiful setting. Parking is plentiful and admission is $6 senior and veterans are free. Thank you for that.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kimberly B
Pardeeville, WI85 contributions
Family
The Indian Agency House sets the story of Portage's relationship to the Ho Chunk people. The Kinzie's lived here from 1832-34. We had a nice young man, extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area, give us an in depth tour of the home and grounds. Well worth the time. I understood the historic site only receives a handful of tourist. Its a shame because the location is beautiful with the Portage canal right there and the Ice Age trail adjacent to the site. I would encourage anyone in the area to give this a try. Renovations from a few years ago put the home back to its original decor. There is a small gift shop and museum. Take your time going through for there is much history to absorb. There is also a ciproke on the grounds as well. My young children enjoyed this stop! Well worth it.
Written August 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BA D
Portage, WI57 contributions
Family
If you are coming to Portage, and you like history, I highly suggest you take an hour to visit the Indian Agency House and the Surgeon's Quarters. These two small, out of the way sites have been left intact to record the history of the encroachment of the Ho-Chunk lands by the new Americans. The historic Fort Winnebago was burned to the ground, but these two sites still exist and are worth the visit. After visiting the Agency House, take some time to walk the Ice Age Trail which runs along the Fox River right along side the Agency House. Enjoy the Fox River (one of the few rivers which flow North instead of South) as it starts from a spring not far from Portage and ends as a huge river that dumps into Green Bay.
Written October 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sue Grace
Asheville, NC540 contributions
Family
Not recommended if you are mixed race family of younger Mayan Indian/ Hispanic origin. Well I'm quite sure that the white Indian agent and his family were traumatized, but that doesn't justify or make it appropriate to then, have your reenactor discuss how he, The Indian agent reenactor, forcibly inoculated the American Indians under his control and power with smallpox vaccinations that could potentially kill them right in front of my 11-year-old clearly Mayan Indian child. It would've been so difficult to warn me that this was not something appropriate for her. It is not a reenactment that my Beautiful brown skinned 11-year-old needed to see, hear or experience. Truly quite astonishingly inept in the 21st-century. If you're merely going to glorify white power of the past you really need to warn people, some of us who were born White who are not proud of how we came to this country and how many Native Americans were slaughtered so we can have this country as our own. It was not a Balanced presentation showing both sides of what happened, it was look what happened to the poor white Indian age and his family. Never going back. Not recommended for anyone of conscience.
Written November 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
M H
York, PA142 contributions
Family
A visit here, especially in the colder weather, gives one a good idea of what it was like on the frontier. Whether you're interested in the Ho-Chunk First People of the region or are just a history buff, this is a good stop. The people running it went out of their way to be nice and schedule a tour for us, too.
Written November 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Randy R
Racine, WI482 contributions
Couples
The Historic Indian Agency House was built with the purpose of a mediator between the Indians and early Wisconsin settlers. John Kinzie would handle transactions of land sales from the Indians to the settlers. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Written September 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
buckyfanWi
WI145 contributions
Couples
This is just down the road from the Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters and the docent here was equally engaging. Great stories from the family that built the house and lived there. Same admission price (veterans free and seniors $6). Well worth the stop.
Written July 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tony T
174 contributions
Couples
This restored Indian Agency House is a complex combination of 19th century norms, innovations and suffering in the pre-statehood Michigan territory (now Wisconsin.) Our docent, Adam, presented the truth of 1830's life in what is now Portage, a major trading/transferring point, between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. We felt the cold, appreciated the amenities (Mrs. Kinzie had her HUGE piano brought from New England - no small task,) and enjoyed Adam's sharing info about the building, contents and people. Highly recommended.
Written July 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hammie595
Portage, WI7 contributions
I've been to the Agency House a few times now and I really enjoy the different events this place puts on. They have the regular seasonal tours which, as some people have observed, tell the true story of the area during 1832 but they do not whitewash history, nor should they. They also offer Spirit Walks, a very atmospheric tour during evening hours and, more recently, wreath making and a children's Christmas celebration. I've enjoyed each and every one.
Written December 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JuliannaMarie
Winkler, Canada148 contributions
Friends
I came by while it was closed, so unfortunately wasn't able to go inside. But we walked around outside and the grounds are beautiful and well kept. There's information posted outside as well so that was nice seeing as we couldn't partake in a tour.
Nice little hidden gem!
Nice little hidden gem!
Written August 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Historic Indian Agency House
- Historic Indian Agency House is open:
- Sun - Sun 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Wed - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near Historic Indian Agency House:
- (2.15 mi) Super 8 by Wyndham Portage
- (2.23 mi) Best Western Resort Hotel & Conference Center
- (1.19 mi) Breese Waye
- (5.22 mi) Comfort Suites Wisconsin Dells Area
- (3.70 mi) Pride of America Camping Resort
- Restaurants near Historic Indian Agency House:
- (1.00 mi) Portage Asian Cuisine
- (1.11 mi) Craig's Popcorn Corner
- (1.03 mi) Tamarack Pizza
- (1.08 mi) Portage Cafe
- (0.93 mi) Trail's Lounge Supper Club