Prairie du Chien: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin's second-oldest city and holds significant historical importance as a key trading post at the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. The city's name, meaning "Prairie of the Dog" in French, comes from a Native American chief whose name translated to "Dog." The area served as a crucial meeting point for Native Americans, French voyageurs, and later American settlers.

Its strategic location made it an important frontier military post, evidenced by the historic Fort Crawford. The city's rich history is reflected in its well-preserved architecture and archaeological sites, representing layers of Native American, French colonial, British, and American settlement periods.

Today, Prairie du Chien continues to preserve its cultural heritage while serving as a regional center in southwestern Wisconsin.