One of the oldest cities in Wisconsin holds some incredible historic sights. Prairie du Chien was established as a European settlement by French fur traders in the late 1600s. It later thrived as a river town and today there are buildings dating back two centuries that are waiting to be rediscovered. It’s the perfect excuse to take a trip to this charming town on the Mississippi River.
Prairie du Chien is the county seat of Crawford County. The city is located near the junction of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and it’s about two hours west of Madison, or about 70 minutes north of Dubuque, Iowa. It’s known as Wisconsin’s second-oldest city.
Villa Louis is one of the city’s grandest old buildings. The property was developed in the 1840s by fur trader and frontier entrepreneur Hercules Dousman. It was a location that did not flood, a big asset in this area.
The beautiful home has been around for more than 150 years, and it in 1952 it was named Wisconsin’s first state historic site. It retains all of its original Victorian decor and it’s open seasonally for tours.
Portions of the second fort, Fort Crawford, remain. It was occupied from 1832 to 1856 and it was part of a string of fortifications along the Mississippi River. The history is detailed in a hospital building that’s part of the Fort Crawford Museum.
Another beautiful old building is the Dousman House Hotel. It was built in 1864 and was originally called the Railroad Hotel, before being renamed after Hercules Dousman, who owned a large amount of railroad stock. The building served as a meatpacking plant and a warehouse and it's now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There’s more beauty and history to be discovered in Prairie du Chien, including many old buildings, historical markers, and a cemetery holding the graves of early residents. Learn more about these attractions and Prairie du Chien here. If you love discovering Wisconsin’s history, here are 12 of the state’s best historic small towns.
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