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- Prairie du Chien -
A Crawford County Community
Eastman |
Ferryville |
Gays Mills |
Prairie du Chien | Seneca |
Soldiers Grove |
Wauzeka
 Prairie
du Chien is located in the southern portion of Crawford County along the
Mississippi River. You may travel to Prairie du Chien on the Wisconsin Great
River Road (State Highway 35) or on State Highways 18, 60, or 27. As the
second oldest settlement in Wisconsin, Prairie du Chien’s historic sites
offer you captivating glimpses of authentic frontier life. It was here in
1829 that the second Fort Crawford was built to project the power and
interests of the U.S. government upon the new frontier. Here also, Dr.
William Beaumont conducted his groundbreaking medical experiments at the
garrison hospital, preserved today as part of Fort Crawford Museum. The
flourishing outpost attracted Hercules Dousman who came to make a fortune in
fur trade and real estate. His son, Louis, subsequently built the famed
Villa Louis mansion, a Victorian estate recently restored to its 1890’s
splendor.
Prairie du Chien is a city of approximately 6,000
residents. It is the largest community in Crawford County and also the
county seat. For tourists, it offers numerous attractions, lodging and
dining selections, shopping, unique annual events, and unlimited
recreational opportunities. Nestled between the towering bluffs and the
Mississippi River, you will find this community a "must stop" when you visit
the area.
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