Indiana’s Timeless Tales – Pre-History to 1781

Readers of Indiana's Timeless Tales – Pre-History to 1781 will discover a wealth of early Indiana history with this timeline of events that cover Indiana history from prehistory up until the formation of the Northwest Territory.

Journal of Events

During this era, settlements in the future state of Indiana were sparse. Vincennes, Indiana's oldest city, was established in 1702 as a French Trading Post. By the time of the Revolutionary War, Britain had taken possession as a prize won during the French and Indian War.

George Rogers Clark

George Rogers Clark's 1778 - 79 campaign had wrested this vast territory from Britain during the Revolutionary War. Clark and his men's heroics ensured that the region would be ceded to the United States at the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the war. George Rogers Clark would spend most of his last days at the town named after him in southern Indiana.

Beginning of the Frontier

The end of the war brought new pressures upon the native population, as American pioneers began eyeing the rich lands of the Ohio River Valley. As the Revolution ended the story of Indiana history began.