Prairie du Chien in Crawford County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Prairie du Chien

Photographed by Greta Schassler, May 18, 2025

1. Prairie du Chien Marker

Inscription. In prehistoric times water from melting glaciers cut a wide valley between the bluffs of the Mississippi River to form a broad flood plain. On it French explorers, traders and missionaries found a large and well-established Fox Indian village. The chief's name was Alim in Indian, Chien in French, and Dog in English.

Jonathan Carver visited the village in 1766 and called it "Dog Plain" but the residents preferred the French "Prairie du Chien." Another traveler, who could trade and fight better than he could spell, was Peter Pond. In 1773 Pond visited Prairie du Chien and wrote: "This Plane is a Very Handsum one. The Plane is Verey Smooth hear. All the traders & all the Indians of Several tribes Meat fall & Spring."

The United States Government negotiated three important treaties with the Indians here in 1825, 1829 and 1830. Most important was the council that opened August 5, 1825. In a conference that lasted fourteen days, leaders of most of the Indian tribes of the Northwest met with William Clark and Lewis Cass to establish territorial boundaries for each tribe.

Erected 1962

Erected 1962 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 116.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1766.

Location. 43° 2.972′ N, 91° 9.015′ W. Marker is in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in Crawford County. It can be reached from South Main Street south of West Wisconsin Street (U.S. 18), on the right when traveling south. Marker is at the tourist information center near the Mississippi River Marquette-Jolliet Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 South Main, Prairie du Chien WI 53821, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pere Marquette and Sieur Jolliet (here, next to this marker); Jefferson Davis (approx. ¼ mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of the Second Fort Crawford (approx. half a mile away); Black Hawk's Surrender (approx. half a mile away); Smoke stacks and paddle wheels (approx. half a mile away); Fort Crawford (approx. half a mile away); William Beaumont, M. D. (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prairie du Chien.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Museum of Medical Progress