The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital was built here in 1831. In 1934 this portion of it was restored with original stone as a memorial to William Beaumont, M.D. (1785-1853), a pioneer military surgeon. Among the prominent military personnel stationed at Fort Crawford were Zachary Taylor, later President of the United States, and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. The Museum of Medical Progress was established by the Charitable, Educational and Scientific Foundation of the State Medical Society and is operated by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.