The Breathtaking Homestead In Wisconsin You Must Visit This Year
By Ben Jones|Published March 22, 2023
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Pioneers arrived in Wisconsin with big dreams, and a few of them built castles fit for frontier kings. A fur trading family built an impressive estate near the Mississippi River, and it’s now a Wisconsin historic site that showcases the history of the region and the state’s early fur trade. It’s well worth seeking out. Here’s what you need to know about Villa Louis.
This stunning historic homestead located is located in far western Wisconsin in Prairie du Chien, at St. Feriole Island Park.
The property has an even longer history. Native American mound builders inhabited this place and built impressive mounds long ago. Later, the United States government build a fort here.
Villa Louis was built on the old fort site by H. Louis Dousman, the son of fur trader Hercules Dousman. The mansion was constructed in the mid-1800s and features a beautiful Greek Revival style architecture. The property also includes a carriage house, icehouse, and other outbuildings.
The property became the state's first historic site, and it's also a National Historic landmark. Visitors to Villa Louis can take a guided tour of the property, which includes the mansion and the surrounding gardens. The interior of the mansion has been meticulously restored to its 1890s appearance, with period furnishings and decor.
Villa Louis is also home to a museum that showcases the history of the Dousman family and the fur trade in Wisconsin. The museum features exhibits on the family's trading ventures, their relationships with Native American tribes, and their role in the development of the state.
The property is beautifully maintained and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of one of Wisconsin’s most prominent early families. Learn more about the property on the Villa Louis website. There’s a lot of history to discover in Wisconsin – and there are plenty more small towns you should visit this year.
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