Astor Fur Warehouse

The Astor Fur Warehouse is a stone building with three floors connected by an interior hoist mechanism. This system allowed workers to move pelts efficiently between the different levels.

The building was constructed in 1828 as a storage facility for the American Fur Company and operated for several decades. It represents the period when American trading companies took control of the fur trade in the region.

This building marks a time when fur trading was central to commerce in the region and shows how such businesses operated during that era. Visitors can grasp how this type of trade shaped the development of the area.

The building is located on St. Feriole Island at Bolvin and Water Streets and now functions as part of the Villa Louis museum complex. Visitors should note that it is a historical site with limited access, and visiting conditions may vary by season.

The building is the last remaining fur trade warehouse in the Upper Mississippi Valley and preserves original details such as the wooden beams separating rows of windows. These construction elements show how such buildings were designed and used long ago.

Location: Prairie du Chien

Inception: 1835

Made from material: stone

Address: Water Street

GPS coordinates: 43.05499,-91.16009

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:02