"Welcome to the La Crosse area!
You're going to love it here!"
Whether
you’re moving to the Greater La Crosse Area or just visiting, you’re likely to
hear this greeting over and over again.
And you’ll be hearing it from people who
sincerely appreciate the natural beauty, the overall commitment to quality, and
the sense of community that they enjoy each day as residents of the "Coulee
Region."
This appreciation for the
La Crosse area has been present from the days
of our earliest inhabitants. The giant glaciers of the Ice Age retreated north
and miraculously left the La Crosse area virtually
untouched. Early hunters in search of the giant mammoth were attracted to the
area by the three rivers that came together here. The Mississippi, the La
Crosse, and the Black Rivers later became a gathering place for Native
Americans, who learned to use the vast natural resources of the lush prairies
near the rivers. The rivers provided them with trade routes throughout the
center of the continent.
Later, European settlers made their way through
the mountainous limestone formations and the narrow valleys (called "Coulees" by
the French) until they reached the edge of the 500 foot bluffs overlooking the
Mississippi River Valley. There, they observed a group of Winnebago Indians on
the prairie below, playing a game similar to the French game of lacrosse. Soon,
"Prairie La Crosse" became a major trading post, as commodities, freight, and
more settlers arrived in the area. Lumber, limestone, and farm products built
the local economy.
And, today, people still travel the Mississippi
River Valley to the La Crosse area to enjoy the scenic
beauty of the autumn season, the festivals of summer, and the recreation and
natural beauty of the spring and winter.
Those who settle in the La Crosse
area share a common commitment to make each and every
segment of our lifestyle even greater.
For more tourist
information, please contact our partners:
La Crosse Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Downtown Mainstreet, Inc.
Center for
Commerce & Tourism
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