Dousman Hotel facts for kids
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Dousman Hotel
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fisher St. and River Rd., Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1864 |
| Architectural style | Mid-Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000122 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
The Dousman Hotel is a very old and important building in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It's located where Fisher Street and River Road meet. This hotel was built way back in 1864–1865. It was made to welcome people traveling by train and steamboat to the city.
The hotel got its name from Hercules L. Dousman. He was a very rich and important person in Wisconsin's early days. He traded furs, bought and sold land, and was a millionaire. The Dousman Hotel was open until the 1920s. After that, it was used as a place to process meat.
In 1960, the hotel was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a special place in American history. It's important because it's one of the last big hotels left from the 1800s. Back then, many people traveled by train and steamboat. In recent years, the hotel has been fixed up. Now, the first floor is a restaurant and a place for events. It's called the Dousman House.
About the Dousman Hotel
The Dousman Hotel is a three-story building made of brick. It was designed in a style called Mid-Victorian. Over the years, some of its fancy decorations were lost or changed.
What Does It Look Like?
Today, you can still see the brick designs at the corners of the building. There are also arched shapes around the windows. These are some of the main parts of the original design that are still there. The hotel used to have a small tower on its roof called a cupola. It also had decorative brackets under the roof's edge. These were taken off, but the cupola was later put back. The original front porch, which was along the middle of the front, is also gone. Inside, the hotel once had 51 guest rooms and a dining room. These parts were later changed completely.
A Look Back in Time
The Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad built the Dousman Hotel. It was right next to their train station in 1864–1865. The hotel was named after Hercules L. Dousman. He was involved in both steamboat and railroad businesses. He also owned land and lumber companies. At the time, he was seen as the most important person in Prairie du Chien. He became a millionaire when very few people in the United States were.
People traveling by both river and train often stayed at the hotel. It was known as the fanciest hotel in the city back then. Because it was so close to the train station, it was easy for train travelers to get to. The hotel made a lot of money. It stayed open until 1925.
After it closed, meatpacking companies used the hotel from 1939 to 1952. During this time, new parts were added to the hotel. The inside was also completely changed. After 1952, other businesses used the hotel for storage. By the 1960s, it was empty and falling apart. But since then, the building has been fixed up. Now, a hotel business is running in the space once again.
