On Main Street (State Highway 35) near Hickory Street, on the right when traveling south.
Patrick J. Lucey was born in La Crosse on March 21, 1918, to Ferryville parents, Gregory C. and Ella McNamara Lucey. He was educated at Campion Academy, College of St. Thomas, and the University of Wisconsin.
Lucey served in the U.S. Army . . . — — Map (db m35407) HM
Near Main Street (State Highway 171) west of West Orin Street, on the right when traveling west.
In the spring of 2003, after the old bridge on Hwy 171 over the Kickapoo River was replaced with this new one, Cliff Swallows started breeding under the concrete structure. Cliff Swallows are one of 6 species of swallows breeding in Wisconsin. . . . — — Map (db m40391) HM
On State Highway 171, 0.5 miles east of State Highway 131, on the left when traveling east.
Farmers in this area learned early that the land on both sides of the Kickapoo River offered excellent conditions for apple-growing. In 1905 John Hays and Ben Twining collected apples from eight or ten farmers around Gays Mills for exhibit at the . . . — — Map (db m31676) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 171) at West Orin Street on Main Street.
In the year 1847 James B. Gay, a civil engineer and native of Indiana, journeyed to the unsettled Kickapoo Valley. Here he was impressed by acres of untouched forest which covered the hills and valleys. Finding a good rock bottom in the river and . . . — — Map (db m40057) HM
On Great River Road (State Highway 35) 1.4 miles south of County Highway F, on the left when traveling south.
After 1837 the vast timber resources of northern Wisconsin were eagerly sought by settlers moving into the mid-Mississippi valley. By 1847 there were more than thirty saw-mills on the Wisconsin, Chippewa, and St. Croix river systems, cutting largely . . . — — Map (db m23456) HM
On West Rice Street west of South Beaumont Road, on the right when traveling west.
On August 2, 1832, the Black Hawk War effectively ended when the U.S. Military massacred many followers of Sauk Indian leader Black Hawk at the Battle of Bad Axe, located about 35 miles north of here. Black Hawk, known as Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, . . . — — Map (db m43531) HM
On North Water Street, on the right when traveling south.
The War of 1812 convinced America that in order
to control their vast country they must occupy and
develop it. In Prairie Du Chien this process began
with the construction of Fort Crawford
in the summer of 1816
Symbol of government and . . . — — Map (db m125191) HM
On South Beaumont Road south of West Cass Street, on the right when traveling south.
Lieutenant United States Army
Assigned Fort Crawford 1831
Served here with distinction
during Black Hawk War
Hero in Mexican War 1846-1848
United States Congressman
Senator, Secretary of War
President
Confederate States of America . . . — — Map (db m43642) HM
On Frenchtown Road (County Highway K) 0.5 miles north of Frederick Street, on the left when traveling north.
L'ancien Cimetiere Francais
Blessed by Father Dunand May 6, 1817
Here, on grounds long used by Indians,
French 'hommes du nord' buried their loved ones.
Present Markers - Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Gardipi 1845 • Jean Joseph Rolette . . . — — Map (db m43649) HM
On South Beaumont Road north of West Rice Street, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital was built here in 1831. In 1934 this portion of it was restored with original stone as a memorial to William Beaumont, M.D. (1785-1853), pioneer military surgeon.
Among prominent military personnel . . . — — Map (db m43641) HM
On South Main Street south of West Wisconsin Street (U.S. 18), on the right when traveling south.
In 1673, Louis Jolliet, Canadian fur-trader and explorer, and Father Jacques Marquette, French Jesuit Missionary, with five French Canadian boatmen, were the first white men to enter the upper Mississippi River.
Indians directed them to the . . . — — Map (db m43530) HM
Near South Main Street south of West Wisconsin Street (U.S. 18), on the right when traveling south.
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 . . . — — Map (db m43529) HM
On West Rice Street west of South Beaumont Road, on the right when traveling west.
The first Fort Crawford was built in 1816, and stood on the site now occupied by the "Villa Louis." After a decade of Mississippi River flooding, the U. S. Army relocated Fort Crawford to this site, constructing the new fort of locally quarried . . . — — Map (db m43532) HM
On North Water Street, on the right when traveling south.
In the summer of 1823 the steamboat Virginia
successfully negotiated the dangerous rapids at the
mouth of the Des Moines River and became the first
steam-powered vessel to navigate the upper
Mississippi.
By the 1830’s steamboats were common . . . — — Map (db m125202) HM
On East Hayden Street at North Beaumont Road on East Hayden Street.
Lest We Forget
For us they served
For us they gave
Now in one accord
We do them honor
Dedicated to all
men and women
of Crawford County Wisconsin
who served this great nation
for God and country
in military service
. . . — — Map (db m44716) HM
On North Villa Louis Road north of Bolvin Street, on the left when traveling north. Reported permanently removed.
On the site of old Fort Crawford, Col. Hercules Louis Dousman, important agent in John J. Astor's fur company, built his "house on the mound" in 1843. Later it was named Villa Louis. Today this luxurious mansion appears much as it did in the days . . . — — Map (db m23589) HM
On North Villa Louis Road north of Bolvin Street, on the left when traveling north.
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 . . . — — Map (db m23586) HM
Near North Villa Louis Road north of Bolvin Street, on the left when traveling north.
Although Prairie du Chien belonged to the United States after the American Revolution, its pioneer residents were tied by trade, tradition and family to the French-British community at Mackinac and to the St. Lawrence River ports.
During the . . . — — Map (db m23591) HM
On South Beaumont Road at West Rice Street, on the right when traveling south on South Beaumont Road.
Born Lebanon, Conn. 1785
Died St. Louis, Mo. 1853
At old Fort Crawford, one mile and a half northwest of this spot, one hundred years ago, Doctor Beaumont, a surgeon in the United States Army, performed those experiments on Alexis St. Martin . . . — — Map (db m44696) HM
On County Highway B west of State Highway 27, on the left when traveling west.
700 Sac Indians July 31,
1200 Soldiers Aug. 1, 1832
followed this ridge west
into Vernon County over this
ground.
_____________________
Two human skeletons were
found at a spring west of
Wilder's Hotel, Rising
Sun in 1852.
. . . — — Map (db m32003) HM
Near U.S. 61 at State Highway 171, on the right when traveling south.
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division, was born at Eagle, WI. on July 6th, 1922. He entered the service at Soldiers Grove, WI. in October, 1942. While serving his country in Okinawa, . . . — — Map (db m32769) HM
On Pine Street (U.S. 61) north of Sunbeam Boulevard / Halverson Ridge Road, on the left when traveling south.
Product of a small American community, James O. Davidson's life illustrates the romance of citizenship in a democracy. Born 1854 in Norway, where he received little formal education, he emigrated in 1872 and was a farmer and tailor before coming in . . . — — Map (db m31671) HM
On Main Street (County Highway C) at Mill Street (State Highway 131) on Main Street.
In late July, during the Black Hawk War of 1832, Sac Indian leader Black Hawk led his starving followers through this area in their escape from the General Henry Atkinson and his military forces. After Black Hawk's brilliant delaying tactics at the . . . — — Map (db m31659) HM
