Prairie Du Chien: Nature and History

Prairie Du Chien offers different options when planning a trip: nature and recreational activities are complemented by places where the city’s history and that of individual buildings can be seen. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first consider which themes you want your stay to focus on. The following places differ in the activities they offer and the historical questions they raise.

Parks and Outdoor Activities

Located on the geological formation known as Bridgeport Terrace, La Riviere Park encompasses hills, forests, open areas, and limited areas of agricultural land. Six miles of hiking trails and marked bike trails offer different ways to experience the park; birdwatching is also possible there. If you’d like to focus your trip more on outdoor activities, these options offer a concrete starting point.

St. Feriole Island Park offers a different focus: its amenities include an 18-hole Rotary disc golf course. As recreational facilities can change, it’s a good idea to check the latest information about the course before planning a visit specifically to play. Prairie Villa Rendezvous is also part of the park’s annual events program. Dates may vary, so check the current event dates when planning a specific trip.

Local History and Architecture

The Fort Crawford Museum presents the history of the fort, the city of Prairie Du Chien, and the many people whose lives were connected to the place. One special historical focus is William Beaumont: the museum explains how the military surgeon advanced the study of human digestion through his experiments at the Fort Crawford Military Hospital. This brings both the development of the place and a topic in the history of science into focus.

Villa Louis is an Italianate mansion built in 1871 and restored to reflect its historic appearance in the 1890s. The grounds include more than a dozen historic buildings. Its history extends beyond the house itself: the site where Villa Louis was later built was the location of the only battlefield of the War of 1812 in Wisconsin.

Architecture in Prairie Du Chien’s Downtown District dates back to the 1840s. Many buildings have been restored and retain their individual charm and character. The district thus complements the story of Villa Louis with another perspective on the city’s historic architecture. By comparison, the district’s architecture dates back to the 1840s, whereas Villa Louis was built in 1871.

On St. Feriole Island, the Mississippi River Sculpture Park is next to Villa Louis. It features five life-size bronze statues. The connection between these two neighboring places offers a different focus than the museum and Downtown District: here, sculptures and a historic estate come together.

For the broader travel overview: Crawford County.