Event Details

Name: Historic Prairie du Chien Riverfront Walking Tour
Start: 2023-06-09
End: 2023-06-09
Location: Villa Louis

Friday, June 9, 2023

10:30 AM - Noon

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Location

Villa Louis

Villa Louis, 521 Villa Louis Rd

Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

villalouis@wisconsinhistory.org

For more information, please contact the box office at 608-264-4848 or boxoffice@wisconsinhistory.org.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access is available to the1850 Brisbois Fur Trade Warehouse and restrooms, the first floor of the Villa Louis mansion, and the restrooms located near the mansion. Guests with additional mobility needs are encouraged to contact Villa Louis directly at villalouis@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-326-2721.

Map

driving directions

About the Event

Enlarge

Visit historic buildings and landmarks and hear captivating stories of the people who helped shape the city's history, including that of the Ho-Chunk Nation, whose ancestral land the city was founded on. Stops include the homes of Michel Brisbois and Joseph Rolette, both of whom helped establish the French fur trade along the Mississippi River. Stop by the site of Wisconsin's only War of 1812 battlefield and uncover the story of the conflict between British and American forces. Learn about the establishment of Fort Crawford and the history of the enslaved men and women brought to the fort by military officers.

Cost: $25.
Society members receive a 10% discount.

Know Before You Go:
Please check-in at the Villa Louis Visitor Center. The tour lasts 90 minutes over uneven ground. Please wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather.

About the Location

When you walk through the doors of Villa Louis, you step into the life of one of Wisconsin’s most historic families – the Dousmans. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, Villa Louis offers a panorama of Wisconsin history, beginning with the arrival of early fur traders through the heyday of the Victorian era. Highlighted by the stunning 1871 Italianate style mansion, the 25-acre site includes over a dozen historic structures including the Dousman Office Building, Ice House, Preserve House, Blockhouse, and the foundations of the first Fort Crawford