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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Letters to the Editor

Italian-born explorer Henri de Tonti is important to Illinois history

Illinois The Library of Congress Chicago American Academy of Pediatrics Hispanic the Southwest Side
In this photo taken from Jan. 11, 2012, the Illinois River flows past the east entrance to Starved Rock State Park. In 1682, Henri de Tonti and fellow explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle were the first Europeans to sail through what became Chicago. (AP)

Chicago Buildings Commissioner Matthew W. Beaudet’s beautiful op-ed on Native American culture via Chicago history is spot-on. Bravo.

I do have one caveat, though: Henri de Tonti, while associated with French exploration, was actually Italian (Enrico), a native of Gaeta, located between Rome and Naples. As Italy wasn’t a fully reunified nation until 1870, many Italian explorers like Tonti farmed their talents out to other nations.

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