Prairie du Chien

Prairie du Chien sits where the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers meet, creating a natural meeting point for water travel through the region. The city spreads along the riverbanks and developed as a key stopping place for people moving goods and supplies.

French voyageurs founded the settlement in 1673, making it the fourth European outpost in the Midwest and Wisconsin's second oldest city. The fur trade and river commerce became the driving forces that shaped early growth.

The annual Prairie Villa Rendezvous brings fur trading history to life with craftspeople demonstrating traditional techniques and period activities on Father's Day weekend. Visitors can watch skilled workers show how people lived and worked during the early frontier era.

The city operates essential emergency services including a volunteer fire department and police force based near City Hall on Blackhawk Avenue. Visitors will find these services conveniently located in the downtown area for easy access.

Five National Historic Landmarks and nine sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places mark the city's role in early American frontier history. Few other places in the region hold this many officially recognized historic buildings and sites.