Fish La Crosse

HISTORY OF LA CROSSE La Crosse is Wisconsin’s largest city on the banks of the Mississippi River. Rich in scenic beauty, La Crosse has all the idyllic attributes of small town American, with amenities of a major metropolitan community. One of the oldest cities in Wisconsin, La Crosse, is a hub of regional government as well as a diverse blend of organizations including three higher educational institutions, international manufacturing companies, two world class medical care and research organizations, a strong agricultural base and a thriving tourism industry.

La Crosse features wonderful opportunities for hiking, biking, golfing, site-seeing, shopping and historic tours. Our majestic bluffs and coulees and numerous rivers and streams make boating, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping and other outdoor activities a common occurrence for residents and visitors alike. The Mississippi River continues to be a source of recreation as well as a transportation corridor for barges carrying commodities such as coal, grain, soy beans, corn and wheat. Products are moved up and down the river from Minneapolis / St. Paul to New Orleans and dozens of locals in between.

The 100,000 square foot La Crosse Center is located in the heart of downtown and features major chain hotels connected by skywalk to the facility. In addition to conventions and conferences, the facility is host to a wide variety of entertainment opportunities including national known touring artists such as Kid Rock, Larry the Cable Guy, Tracy Atkins, Elton John and many others. The venue also hosts NBA basketball, Disney on Ice, Ringling Brothers Circus and Sesame Street Live. Restaurants, entertainment, museums and specialty stores all are located within safe walking distance from downtown lodging facilities and convention center.

More than 500 million years ago, earths evolution started creating what today we call Grandad’s Bluff. A compilation of sandstone and limestone, this 1,000 foot thick “mountain”, stands as La Crosse’s most notable land mark. This is a “one of a kind” geological formation. Scientist from around the world travel here to study these rock formations that have never been glaciated and remain just as they were millions of years ago.

In 1911 Mrs. Ellen Hixon financed the City’s purchase of the parcel for park land. Over the years improvements, including a parking lot and pavilion were built and Grandad’s has become a destination point for thousands and a symbol of this great coulee region. The importance and grandeur of Grandad’s prompted the City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department to renovate the park. In collaboration with the Wisconsin DNR and an Urban Park Development Grant, a 1.5 million dollar project was completed in April 2012. This included ground stabilization and erosion control as well as new retaining walls tied into existing bed rock to form a safer walk way.

A new pavilion has also been incorporated into the original foundation. A new design of the overlook and entrance has created a safer venue while increasing the ease of enjoying the awe inspiring view. Limestone benches, a 75 foot flag pole, and a 17.5 ton limestone monolith are part of the “new” park. The completion of this project strategically compliments nature’s magnificent creation.

The numerous communities that make up the La Crosse region offer numerous options of high quality public and private K through 12 educational opportunities. With a mix of residential opportunities to meet everyone’s needs La Crosse is a great place to work, live, play or retire. Peaceful, scenic and safe, historic La Crosse, Wisconsin offers it all.

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