Our History

The Quad Cities is a must-experience regional destination filled with a rich history that Quad Citizens are proud to share. We also have some interesting things about us which set us apart that you may not know. So, how did the Quad Cities story begin. Well, this is what we do know…

Centuries ago, the Sauk nation formed a village called Saukenuk, where the Rock River empties into the Mississippi.  It became the largest Native American settlement in North America.  The Meskwaki tribe settled near Saukenuk and created their own villages along the Mississippi.  As part of a treaty with the Sauk and Meskwaki, Arsenal Island was purchased by the U.S. Government in 1804.  In 1816, the U.S. Army built Fort Armstrong on Arsenal Island, providing a military presence on the frontier and monitoring water passage on the upper Mississippi River.  The Rock Island Rapids occupied 14 miles of the Mississippi River (from LeClaire to Rock Island).  Settlements grew at the head and foot of the rapids as a result of the need for a place to dock and store goods before and after the treacherous passage.  In 1854, the railroad reached Rock Island, and in 1856, the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi was built here.  An attempt was made in 1907 to tame the rapids, and in the early 1930s, the Corps of Engineers installed the first lock and dam.