Near Genoa in Vernon County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Dams on the Mississippi

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

1. Dams on the Mississippi Marker

Inscription. Lock and Dam No. 8 at Genoa, 679.2 miles above the mouth of the Ohio River, is set on a foundation of sand, gravel and broken rock. It has a 110 foot wide chamber and an 11 foot lift from the lower to the upper pool. Construction of the dam cost $6,702,500 and affected 18,591 acres of land. In May 1937 the battery of fifteen gates closed and the Genoa Dam opened for navigation. This dam is one of 26 locks and dams built by the United States Government to improve transportation from Minneapolis to the mouth of the Missouri River. The project, approved by Congressional Act on August 30, 1935, was largely completed by 1938. In the next fifteen years river traffic increased from 458 to 2,636 million tons.

Erected 1958 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 76.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1937.

Location. 43° 34.033′ N, 91° 13.733′ W. Marker is near Genoa, Wisconsin, in Vernon County. Marker is on Great River Road (State Highway 35) 0.3 miles south of Main Street (State Highway 56), on the left when traveling south. Marker

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is at a highway pull-off. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Genoa WI 54632, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor (here, next to this marker); Site of Red Bird's Village (approx. 3.8 miles away); Black Hawks Outpost (approx. 7.3 miles away); Battle of Bad Axe (approx. 7.7 miles away); Black Hawk War (approx. 7.7 miles away); Head of Battle Isle (approx. 7.8 miles away); Black Hawk and Winnebago Trail (approx. 9.7 miles away); Chief Win-no-shik, the Elder (approx. 9.7 miles away).

Dams on the Mississippi Marker <i>[right side]</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

2. Dams on the Mississippi Marker [right side]

View from Parking Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

3. View from Parking Area

Mississippi River Lock and Dam No. 8

Mississippi River Lock & Dam No. 8 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

4. Mississippi River Lock & Dam No. 8

Looking Upriver from Lock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

5. Looking Upriver from Lock

Looking Downriver from Lock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

6. Looking Downriver from Lock

Interpretive Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

7. Interpretive Panel

Nearby Bluff image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

8. Nearby Bluff

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 995 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.