DayTrip to Historic Downtown La Crosse

We were expecting scattered thunderstorms in the area on Monday so we daytripped it out to La Crosse thinking we would have better odds of finding indoor amusement if necessary.  The weather ended up being beautiful, in the 80's like it has been for the whole trip.  All the better for walking around historic downtown La Crosse on the Mississippi River and admiring the architecture.  Unfortunately no one seems to have cared to save any of the history on the inside of the buildings, not even the old banks. Numerous small businesses have moved into the historic area, and the streets were filled with pedestrians at the lunch hour.



During the 1850's mills, stores, and small industrial shops were set up in La Crosse to serve the shipping, lumbering and agricultural interests of the area.  The steamboat trad was thriving, but it was the railroads that became the dominant shipper of goods. By 1876 there were 3 railroads in La Crosse and lumbering grew tremendously.  By 1906 none of the lumber mills were operational and the demise of the steamboats also contributed to the slowdown of growth in La Crosse.

Today La Crosse is home to two Universities and a Technical College, and provides access to numerous River related activities for visitors to enjoy.  If you're heading down I-90 stop in on your way across the Mighty Mississippi!  As nice as La Crosse is...Winona is even better, cross the border there if you get a chance.  I posted about our visit here.