The Historic Indian Agency House was built by the U.S. government for John Kinzie in 1832. Kinzie was the Indian Agent to the Ho-Chunk Nation (Winnebago), and he and his wife, Juliette Magill Kinzie, lived at the portage from 1832-1834. Juliette Kinzie would later write of the young couple's experiences at the portage in her book, Wau-Bun, the "Early Day" in the Northwest.

The Historic Indian Agency House stands on its original spot at the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers in South central Wisconsin. This portage was a crucial link between the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence and Mississippi River watersheds.

The Federal-style house is one of the oldest in Wisconsin and has been outfitted with furnishings and household items appropriate to the period. The Historic Indian Agency House was restored by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Wisconsin in 1932 and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The Historic Indian Agency House is open from May 15- October 15, with guided tours available for a nominal fee.

The Historic Indian Agency House is located just northeast of downtown Portage, Wisconsin, off of State Road 33. Watch for the signs that point you down Rustic Road 69, which follows the historic Portage canal. Park in the Visitor Center lot at the end of the road.

The Historic Indian Agency House is adjacent to the Portage segment of the Ice Age Trail. The trail head is just across the road and north of our parking lot and follows the old Portage Canal. This 3/4 mile path offers flat, easy hiking, and wildlife abounds along the way. Watch for woodcock, quail, and songbirds in the woods along the trail, or see if you can catch a glimpse of a heron, teal or other water birds in the canal. A variety of turtles, snakes and frogs also might be spotted along the trail or banks of the canal.

The end of Rustic Road 69 also marks the terminus of the historic Marquette Trail. This three-mile rustic footpath follows the Fox River north to Marquette Park, which is off of County Highway F.