November 7, 2026 marks 215 years since the Battle of Tippecanoe, fought just north of Lafayette in what is now the town of Battle Ground. It is one of the best-known events in Indiana history, and it happened right here in Tippecanoe County.
What happened at Tippecanoe
In 1808, the Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa, often called the Prophet, founded Prophetstown near where the Tippecanoe River meets the Wabash. It grew into a large community that brought together people from many tribes who opposed American settlement of their lands.
In the fall of 1811, William Henry Harrison, then governor of the Indiana Territory, marched an army of about 1,000 men north toward Prophetstown. Tecumseh was away recruiting allies, so his brother was in charge. Harrison’s troops camped on high ground near Burnett’s Creek on November 6.
Before dawn on November 7, warriors from Prophetstown attacked the camp. The fighting lasted about two hours before the attackers withdrew. The next day, Harrison’s men found Prophetstown abandoned and burned it, along with the food stored there for the winter.
Why the battle still matters
- Harrison earned the nickname “Tippecanoe,” and his 1840 presidential campaign used the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.”
- Several Indiana counties are named for soldiers who fought there, including Bartholomew, Daviess, Spencer, Tipton and Warrick.
- The battle was a setback for Tecumseh’s confederacy in the months leading up to the War of 1812.
The name Tippecanoe itself is older than the battle. It is an English version of a Miami word, Kiteepihkwana, often translated as “place of the buffalo fish people.” Our county, formed in 1826, carries the same name.
Visiting the Tippecanoe Battlefield today
- John Tipton, who fought in the battle, later bought the land and deeded it to the state on November 7, 1836, the 25th anniversary.
- In 1908, the Indiana General Assembly commissioned the 85-foot obelisk that still stands on the grounds.
- The battlefield was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
- Today the Tippecanoe County Historical Association maintains the battlefield and its museum. Check their website for hours before you go.
Make a day of it with a stop at nearby Prophetstown State Park, established in 2004, which has a recreated Shawnee village and a 1920s-era farmstead. Wolf Park is in Battle Ground, too.
Proud to serve Battle Ground and all of Tippecanoe County
Lafayette Insurance is a locally owned, independent agency on Lafayette’s south side. We help families in Battle Ground, Lafayette, West Lafayette and the rest of the county with home, auto, life and business insurance, and we compare several companies to find you the best coverage at the best price. Learn more about our Tippecanoe County insurance services, or call or text us at 765-474-2300.