The town of Portage grew up around Fort Winnebago, which was built to protect the stream of commerce. Jefferson Davis, a young West Point lieutenant, was assigned in 1829 to cut logs for the barracks. He later became president of the Confederacy.
Modern and attractive, Portage acknowledges its origins with several restorations and the Marquette Trail, a portion of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that follows the Fox River from the Governor's Bend Locks to the Historic Indian Agency House. The city attends to the present by serving the surrounding farming and dairying area.
Visitor Centers
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce 104 W. Cook St. Portage, WI 53901. Phone:(608)742-6242 or (800)474-2525
Things to Do
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Historic Site
Recreational Activities