Prairie du Chien and Bridgeport, Wisconsin - history, pictures, events, attractions, shopping and more!

Antiques not yet available	Wisconsin's second oldest city after Green Bay, Prairie du Chien is located just across the Mississippi River from Marquette and McGregor, Iowa and north of where the Wisconsin River joins the Mississippi River. The city's location on the western end of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway, which connects the great lakes to the Mississippi River, gave it a great strategic importance for both Indians and white settlers. This Crawford County town's name translates as "Prairie of the Dog", and named for a Fox Indian chief whose name was Alim - "dog" in English. When the French saw the prairie land that bordered the river, they called in Prairie of the Dog or Prairie du Chien in French. Long before the coming of the white man, the prairie was neutral ground where Indians met, most often to barter. It was claimed for France in 1673 by Marquette and Joliet who were the first white men to view the Upper Mississippi from the Wisconsin River. There is archeological evidence that indicates that Native Americans had settled in the area by at least 13,000 BC. The first known white settlers came in the 1770's. Prairie Du Chien started as an Indian village and later became a great fur trading center. French Canadians, who were fur trading in this area, settled on a small island by the river. Native Americans and fur traders met here to exchange fur for guns and other goods. Prairie du Chien was considered neutral territory by the Indians. Quarrelling Indian tribes would lay down their weapons before attending the rendezvous. Soon, the British took control over most of the fur trade centered in Prairie du Chien. In the early 1800's, the Americans asserted thier presen In 1826, an enterprising fur trader named Hercules Dousman came here and set up shop as an agent for the American Fur Company. Eventually he made a fortune in the fur trade, railroads, steam boating and other investments. His descendants built a luxurious mansion called the Villa Louis on top of a ancient Indian burial mound on a island in the river. Some of the original fur warehouses built by the American Fur Trading Company still exist on historic St. Feriole Island. While you're in Prairie Du Chien check out the many historic sites. More information can be gathered at the Wisconsin Travel Information Center located at the foot of the bridge. There is also a statue here of Father Jacques Marquette, the first European to View the Upper Mississippi River. Call 800-PDC-1673 for more information on Prairie du Chien. The Crawford County Township of Bridgeport received its name from the bridge connecting the two adjoining counties, Grant and Crawford. The other half of the name came from the old ferry crossing to the "ports" of each county.
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