The Scenic Byways Pages of Quilting Pathways
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La Crosse, Wisconsin - Great River Road

La Crosse Wisconsin Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown La Crosse, Wi

scenic byways toursLaCrosse, celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006, having been formally founded as a city in 1856. First settled in 1841 as a trading post by Nathan Myrick, the settlement soon attracted other merchants who served the increasing commerce on the Mississippi river.


LaCrosse Area pages

- La Crosse Things to See & Do
- La Crosse Fall Color Scenes
- La Crosse Oktoberfest
- Milwaukee Road Color Train
- Trempealeau, WI
- Great River Road Scenic Travel

red triangleMore LaCrosse Events & Links

Later the strategic location at the intersection of three rivers (Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers) made it an ideal location for sawmills to handle rafts of logs moving downstream from inland forests. Between 1846 and 1854, the population grew from thirteen residents to 745. Logging and steamship traffic of passengers and the goods of commerce were the nucleus that fueled other manufacturing and agricultural enterprises so that by the time the village was officially incorporated as a city it was a thriving center of commerce. Several buildings from this early era remain.

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La Crosse River Walk

< < < The scenic River Walk and Riverside Park.

La Crosse SteamerThe Julia Belle Swain is one of the remaining few authentic steam-powered passenger vessels on the Mississippi. The rhythmic sound of its reciprocating engine and the musical steam calliope help escort a modern day traveler back 130 years to experience the heyday of steamship travel.

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Riverside Park

La Crosse Riverside Park

A nice spot for a concert, to relax by the garden, or stroll along the riverfront.

La Crosse Riverside Park

La Crosse Riverside Park

La Crosse Riverside Park

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La Crosse, Wi Historic District Walking Tour
Historic downtown La Crosse, with numerous historic buildings preserved and restored, is within walking distance of Riverside Park.

La Crosse Historic Downtown

< < < A tree-lined promenade joins Riverside Park with historic downtown La Crosse. Across the street from the end of the promenade is Powell Place (1872 - 1878), pictured below.La Crosse Riverside Park

La Crosse Historic Downtown

< < < The George Zeisler Bldg (1886) and John Vogel Bldgs (1866-68). Pictured below, the John Walter Bldg (1878) began as a tavern or "sample room" and later after prohibition (1933) was substantially remodeled and became the Casino Bar.La Crosse Riverside Park

La Crosse Historic Downtown


The John Rehfuss building was built in 1894 and originally was a dry goods store. > > >

In total the guide book to the downtown historic walking tour listed 26 buildings. However as we were walking around we noticed a number of other buildings with construction dates in the late 1800s and early 1900s that for some reason weren't listed in the register. Overall we found downtown La Crosse quite attractive and are looking forward to a return visit to sample some of the dining and entertainment venues.

One disappointment. The quilt shop located on Main street we had hoped to visit had closed its doors.

red triangleDownload a brochure on Historic Downtown La Crosse, WI here (pdf file)
(a fairly large file so may take a few minutes)

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G. Heileman/City Brewery
City Brewery La CrosseLocated at the corner of Third and Mississippi streets, the brewery was established in 1858 by John Gund and Gottlieb Heileman, and is an enterprise of great endearment to La Crosse residents and Wisconsinites. Incorporated as G. Heileman Brewery in 1890, it remained in operation until 1999 when Pabst acquired the name and brands (Old Style, Special Export, etc.).

City Brewery La Crosse, WIAfter being closed briefly, the brewery facility was bought by former employees and an investor group and re-opened as City Brewery. Brewery Tours are available as well as a nice hospitality room and gift shop. Go Here for more info on the brewery and tours.

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City Brewery La CrosseGrandad Bluff

A wintertime view of LaCrosse, Wi from the scenic lookout at Grandad's Bluff. A year later, I returned in the fall - Go Here to see some fall foliage photos from Grandad's lookout.

Goose Island Park & Campground

Goose Island Campground Map


Campers and RV ers will be interested in the Goose Island campground a few miles south of La Crosse near Stoddard, WI. It has over 400 sites, most with electric hookups, modern rest rooms and showers, and a park store. (see the link below for more info)

LaCrosse Wisconsin Quilt Shops

See our blog entry from our visit to two interesting La Crosse Quilt Shops.

 

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La Crosse Area Events and Festivals

RIVERFEST - July 3 - 7

Art Fair on the Green - July 28 - 29

Great River Jazz Fest - August 2 - 5

Great River Folk Festival - August 24 - 26

OKTOBERFEST 2012 - September 28 -October 6

LaCrosse, WI Travel & Visitor Links

quiltbullet Historic Downtown La Crosse
quiltbullet LaCrosse Convention & Visitors Bureau
quiltbullet OktoberFest
quiltbullet La Crosse City Brewery
quiltbullet Goose Island Campground


More Great River Road Scenic Byway Pages

- Scenic Drive from Fulton to Galena to Prairie Du Chien
- Scenic Drive from Prairie Du Chien to LaCrosse to Winona
- Scenic Drive from Winona to Red Wing

Go Here for our Master Scenic Byways Directory




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