National Register of Historic Places listings in Crawford County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Crawford County, Wisconsin, is a place rich in history! Many buildings and sites here are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list helps protect places that tell us about the past. Think of it like a hall of fame for historical buildings, archaeological sites, and other important spots.
There are 28 places in Crawford County that are on this list. Some of them are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks, meaning they are important to the history of the entire United States! Let's explore some of these amazing places.
Contents
- Historic Places in Crawford County
- Astor Fur Warehouse
- Michael Brisbois House
- Cipra Wayside Mound Group
- Commercial Hotel
- Crawford County Courthouse
- Crow Hollow Site
- Dousman Hotel
- W.H.C. Folsom House
- Fort Crawford Military Hospital
- Old Rock School
- Strange Powers House
- Prairie du Chien City Hall
- Prairie du Chien Post Office
- Rolette House
- Tainter Cave
- Francois Vertefeuille House
- Villa Louis
- Images for kids
Historic Places in Crawford County
Astor Fur Warehouse
The Astor Fur Warehouse was built around 1828 by Joseph Rolette for the American Fur Company. This company was owned by a very famous businessman named John Jacob Astor. This warehouse is super important because it's the only known fur trade warehouse left in the Upper Mississippi Valley. It shows us how important the fur trade was long ago!
Michael Brisbois House
The Michael Brisbois House was built around 1837. It's made from local limestone and is designed in a style called Federal style. Joseph Rolette, the same fur trader who built the Astor Fur Warehouse, built this house for his wife, Jane. It's a beautiful example of early homes in the area.
Cipra Wayside Mound Group
The Cipra Wayside Mound Group is a collection of ancient burial mounds. These mounds are shaped like lines and cones. They were built by people from the Late Woodland period, who lived here thousands of years ago. These mounds are located near the Wisconsin River and help us learn about the early people of this land.
Commercial Hotel
The Commercial Hotel was built in 1866. It has an Italianate style, which means it has fancy, decorative features often seen in Italian buildings. When it was first built, it was called the Schweizer Block and had shops, offices, and storage. Over the years, it changed names several times, becoming the Commodore Hotel, the Commercial Hotel, and even the Fort Crawford Hotel.
Crawford County Courthouse
The Crawford County Courthouse was built in 1867. It's also in the Italianate style and made from limestone found nearby. What's really interesting is that the jail in the basement might be even older, possibly from 1843! This makes it one of the oldest jails still standing in Wisconsin.
Crow Hollow Site
The Crow Hollow Site is a very old campsite along the Kickapoo River. Archaeologists have found tools like points, scrapers, and grindstones here. People lived at this site as early as 5000 years ago during the Middle Archaic period. It helps us understand how ancient people lived and used the land.
Dousman Hotel
The Dousman Hotel is a large, three-story brick building in the Victorian style. It was built around 1864 by the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad. It was named after Hercules Dousman, a fur agent who also helped develop railroads. Even though it was turned into a slaughterhouse in 1937, it has now been restored to its original grand look.
W.H.C. Folsom House
The W.H.C. Folsom House is a Greek Revival style home built in 1842. It belonged to a businessman named Folsom. Many interesting things happened here! An attorney named Wiram Knowlton recruited soldiers for the Mexican-American War from this house. Also, the famous naturalist John Muir once worked here as a printer.
Fort Crawford Military Hospital
Fort Crawford was an important military outpost for the U.S. Army, started in 1816. Many historical events took place here. The First Treaty of Prairie du Chien was signed here. Dr. William Beaumont did important research on human digestion at this hospital. Famous figures like Zachary Taylor (who later became president) and Jefferson Davis (who later led the Confederacy) served here. Even the Native American leader Black Hawk was imprisoned here. Today, it is a museum where you can learn all about its past.
Old Rock School
The Old Rock School was an elementary school built in 1857. It's designed in the Greek Revival style, which was popular for public buildings at the time. It served as a place of learning for many generations of students.
Strange Powers House
The Strange Powers House is a very old home, with parts probably built around 1820. It uses a unique French colonial building method where vertical timbers are connected by horizontal poles. The house is named after an early owner, Strange Powers. It gives us a peek into how homes were built long ago.
Prairie du Chien City Hall
The Prairie du Chien City Hall was built in 1894. This building was a busy place! It housed the mayor's office, the police department, the fire department, and even a library and an auditorium. Later, the American Legion used the building. It's a great example of a community hub from the past.
Prairie du Chien Post Office
The Prairie du Chien Post Office was built in 1936 with help from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program during the Great Depression that created jobs. This post office features a special sculpture showing explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet.
Rolette House
The Rolette House was started in 1840 by the fur trader Joseph Rolette. It's built with a special technique called "frame-with-brick-nogging," where bricks fill the spaces between wooden frames. Over time, it was used as a hotel and a boarding house, showing how buildings changed uses in the past.
Tainter Cave
Tainter Cave is a fascinating site known for its ancient charcoal drawings. These drawings show birds, men, deer, and abstract designs. Some of them are believed to be from around 1000 CE. With about 100 drawings, this cave holds half of all the known rock art drawings in Wisconsin, and they are in a very unique style!
Francois Vertefeuille House
The Francois Vertefeuille House is a log cabin built around 1810. It was constructed using a special French Canadian method by people involved in the fur trade. This cabin is believed to be the oldest building in Wisconsin that is still standing on its original spot! It's a true survivor from the early days of the state.
Villa Louis
Villa Louis is a beautiful mansion built in 1871 in the Italian villa style. It was constructed by Louis Dousman on land his father, Hercules, started developing in 1843. What's even more interesting is that the mansion was built on an ancient Indian mound. Today, Villa Louis is a museum where you can step back in time and see how a wealthy family lived in the 1800s.
Images for kids
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