Houlton in St. Croix County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Brule-St. Croix Waterway

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, April 11, 2020

1. Brule-St. Croix Waterway Marker

Inscription. From early Indian days the St. Croix River and the Brule River, reached by a two mile portage, formed a waterway connecting Lake Superior with the Mississippi River.

The first white man to travel the Brule-St. Croix route was the French explorer and trader, Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, in 1680. Many traders followed in the next century and a half to harvest the beaver. They had hardly gone before the St. Croix carried the logs and the rafts of the lumbering days, now gone too.

The primitive beauty and rugged landscape of the St. Croix earned its distinction by the United States Congress as a wild and scenic river. It is one of the best for recreation and for adventurous canoeing.

Erected 1973 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 200.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1680.

Location. 45° 2.817′ N, 92° 46.863′ W. Marker is in Houlton, Wisconsin, in St. Croix County. It can be reached from Wisconsin Route 64 just south of Route 35, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Houlton WI 54082, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

and in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

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

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Home to Bald Eagles (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Protecting the Watershed (approx. 0.2 miles away); Migration (approx. 0.2 miles away); White Pine Treaty (approx. 0.4 miles away); Steamboats on the St. Croix (approx. 0.4 miles away in Minnesota); Where's the State Boundary? (approx. 0.4 miles away in Minnesota); Wisconsin Symbols (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Croix Crossing (approx. 0.6 miles away in Minnesota). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houlton.

More about this marker. Marker was moved from the former I-94 Travel Information center, west of Carmichael Road, in Hudson (about 9 miles south of this new location).

Regarding Brule-St. Croix Waterway. The two mile portage is located near Solon Springs in Douglas County.

Also see . . . WDNR - Brule River State Forest. “A little less than two miles in length, one-way, this portage trail was used for centuries by Native Americans, explorers, traders, trappers, and missionaries as an important link between Lake Superior and the Mississippi River via the Brule and St. Croix Rivers. Daniel Greysolon Sieur du Lhut first recorded the trail’s existence in 1680. He was followed by many notables of early American

View of marker looking south towards the St. Croix River Crossing Bridge. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, April 11, 2020

2. View of marker looking south towards the St. Croix River Crossing Bridge.

The bridge, opened in 2017, is only the second of its kind in the U.S. and spans the St. Croix River, between Oak Park Heights, Minnesota and St. Joseph, Wisconsin. It is an extradosed bridge that employs a structure that combines the main elements of both a prestressed box girder bridge and a cable-stayed bridge.

history, including Jonathon Carver and Henry Schoolcraft, who are credited with discovering the source of the Mississippi.” (Submitted on August 25, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.)

Additional commentary.
1. Location
Very hard to get to this marker unless you’re on a bike or able to walk the trail.

— Submitted October 12, 2025.

Brule-St. Croix Waterway Marker at new location. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, April 11, 2020

3. Brule-St. Croix Waterway Marker at new location.

St. Croix River at I-94 Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, August 20, 2007

4. St. Croix River at I-94 Bridge

Former location of Brule-St. Croix Waterway Marker at I-94 Travel Center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, August 21, 2007

5. Former location of Brule-St. Croix Waterway Marker at I-94 Travel Center.

Former location of marker at now closed Travel Information Center. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 13, 2011

6. Former location of marker at now closed Travel Information Center.

The marker, highway signs, play equipment, picnic tables, and displays were removed. The area has been turned into shops and restaurants.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,839 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 11, 2020, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 4, 5. submitted on August 24, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 6. submitted on June 14, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.