The Old Northwest And Our Beaver

Before it was the Midwest, it was the Northwest. Before Lewis and Clark made their

legendary journey to find a passage to the Pacific: frontiersman, hunters, trappers, and traders first went into the territory North and west of the Ohio River in search for animal hides (or leathers). This territory now includes: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. We honor history by recognizing that for hunters and trappers, this region was the frontier from the earliest days of America. 

The traders who took on the dangers of living in America's first frontier were after pelts like: deer, otter, bear, bison and elk. But their primary target were beaver pelts. Beaver pelts were considered premium hides used in European fashion and therefore highly desirable. The beaver is another symbol used to connect us with history and those early hunters who paved the way by adopting new hunting techniques, exploring unknown areas, and settling wild places.