Near Holmen in La Crosse County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Luther College

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

1. Luther College Marker

Inscription. The first college founded by Norwegian Lutheran pioneer immigrants in the United States opened in the parsonage of Halfway Creek Lutheran congregation, Sept. 1, 1861. Teachers were Laur. Larsen and F.A. Schmidt, who also served as pastors for area immigrants. Enrollment was 16. The parsonage was destroyed by fire in 1865. The site and a marker are one-half mile west of Halfway Creek Lutheran Church on Knutson Road, near Halfway Creek Cemetery. The College moved to Decorah, Iowa, in 1862 where it continues.

Erected 1977 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 235.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 1, 1859.

Location. 43° 58.001′ N, 91° 13.244′ W. Marker is near Holmen, Wisconsin, in La Crosse County. It is on County Highway D 0.1 miles west of Knudson Road, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at a highway pull-off 0.5 miles west of County Highway W. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

area: Holmen WI 54636, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Half Way Creek Parsonage Site (approx. 0.4 miles away); The McGilvray "Seven Bridges Road" (approx. 5.7 miles away); Onalaska: Present and Past (approx. 5.9 miles away); Onalaska: Past and Present (approx. 5.9 miles away); The Mindoro Cut (approx. 6.3 miles away); Tim Gullikson (approx. 6½ miles away); The Valley View Site (approx. 6.8 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 7.1 miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Luther College. (Submitted on June 7, 2011.)

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

2. Luther College Marker

Nearby Intersection Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

3. Nearby Intersection Sign

Halfway Creek Lutheran Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

4. Halfway Creek Lutheran Church

Halfway Creek Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

5. Halfway Creek Cemetery

Photographed by Keith L, June 5, 2011

6. Halfway Creek Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,892 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on August 1, 2021. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 6. submitted on June 7, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.