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

Villa Louis

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

1. Villa Louis Marker [south side]

Inscription. This hilltop mansion commands a sweeping view of a landscape steeped in history. Descendants of pioneer fur trader Hercules Dousman built the house in 1870 atop a mound overlooking the Mississippi River, which drew European explores to this spot in the 17th century. By the beginning of the Revolutionary War, fur traders and native tribes met here to trade goods. The fur trade sparked a clash of armies on this site in the only battle of the War of 1812 fought on Wisconsin soil. It also brought Dousman here in 1826 to ply the trade for the American Fur Company.

H. Louis Dousman built the Villa Louis as the centerpiece of a country estate that reflected the family's status. For a time the estate operated as the Artesian Stock Farm, breeding and raising fine standard bred trotting horses for harness racing. Amid the thick of Victorian-era pomp in 1885, Dousman and his wife Nina redecorated the house in British Arts and Crafts splendor. The Dousmans left the estate in 1913 and its luster waned over time until the Wisconsin Historical Society took ownership of the property in 1952 and eventually returned the magnificent home to its 1890s heyday.

Erected 2002 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 474.)

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

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lists: Exploration • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 43° 3.389′ N, 91° 9.463′ W. Marker is in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in Crawford County. Marker is on North Villa Louis Road north of Bolvin Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 521 North Villa Louis Road, Prairie du Chien WI 53821, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. War of 1812 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Crawford (approx. 0.3 miles away); Smoke stacks and paddle wheels (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Prairie du Chien (approx. 0.6 miles away); Pere Marquette and Sieur Jolliet (approx. 0.6 miles away); Jefferson Davis (approx. 0.9 miles away); L'ancien Cimetiere Francais (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prairie du Chien.

Villa Louis Marker <i>[north side]</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

2. Villa Louis Marker [north side]

More about this marker. The original 1953 marker (#10) was replaced with this revised 2002 marker.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link is for the previous Villa Luis marker.

Also see . . . Villa Louis. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on October 24, 2009.)

Additional commentary.
1. Previous marker
There was an older marker with different text at this same location before the current marker replaced it. I don't know why it was changed. I asked the park director if I could photo the other marker and he was nice enough to haul it out of a shed for me. He commented that we marker searchers were a "persistent bunch".

— Submitted August 12, 2017, by Steve Chizzo of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009

3. Villa Louis

State/National Register of Historic Places #66000123

Another marker on the Villa Louis grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gordon Govier, August 10, 2012

4. Another marker on the Villa Louis grounds

Artesian well at the Villa Louis image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gordon Govier, August 10, 2012

5. Artesian well at the Villa Louis

Photographed By Gordon Govier, August 10, 2012

6. Another marker on the Villa Louis grounds

Indian mound on the grounds of the Villa Louis image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Gordon Govier, August 10, 2012

7. Indian mound on the grounds of the Villa Louis

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,516 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 17, 2012, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.