1938 -2013 W I S C O N S I N M I S S I S S I P P I R I V E R P A R K WAY C O M M I S S I O N :
7 5 ye ar s O N T HE ROa d
The wisconsin great river road Celebrating 75 Years Of Traveling The Road Throughout 2013 Travel the road, stay overnight in any of our 33 historic river town communities in quaint restored historic buildings or modern hotel/motel options in our larger cities. Throughout the year you will discover festivals, events, natural outdoor recreation, historic sites, National historic districts and 75th anniversary events sponsored by our communities. In 2012 the Wisconsin Great River Road was voted Prettiest Drive, Ultimate Summer Road Trip In The United States by readers of the Huffington Post. Wisconsin’s only National Scenic Byway, a prestigious designation, this National treasure is located on Wisconsin’s western shore. Take a short drive and you will be step into another day and time traveling winding two-lane roads along the Mississippi River or through the highlands to the top of the river bluffs. Visit the enchanting, historic river towns and step back into the time when life centered around Main Street and small town values. Enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you from all sides with a hike, a kayak trip, a bicycle ride or just look out over the Mississippi River Valley views from the top of a bluff.
You won’t be disappointed and you‘ll experience the Ultimate Summer Road Trip!
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS Established in 1938 from existing local roads, auto tours & state trunk roads along the Mississippi River, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, advocator of the Great River Road, is officially 75 years old in 2013.
In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission is the ambassador for the Great River Road connecting 33 river towns & 8 river counties; voted Prettiest Drive: Ultimate Summer Road Trip in the United States in 2012.
This collection of roads runs 3000 miles from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Travel the Wisconsin segment of road along the Mississippi River and enjoy beautiful river & bluff views
… offering some of the best viewing and road trip opportunities along the entire length of the 3000 mile Great River Road system. Visitors from all 50 states and over 60 foreign countries travel the Wisconsin Great River Road every year. During 2013 everyone will experience something special as we celebrate 75 Years On The Road!
75th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS DATE
COMMUNITY
EVENT
MAY 17th-18th
Stoddard to Seneca
70 MILE RUMMAGE ALONG THE RIVER Ribbon Cutting & Opening, Sale Runs From Stoddard to Seneca
JUNE 5th
State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin
WISCONSIN MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARYWAY COMMISSION DAY Signing of the 75th Anniversary Proclamation By Governor Scott Walker
JUNE 8th
Alma Historical Society Alma, Wisconsin
MAIN STREET BECOMES THE “GREAT RIVER ROAD” Impact On A National Historic District, Alma, Wisconsin Sponsored by Alma Historical Society
JUNE 15th
Stonefield Village, GRR Interpretive Center Cassville, Wisconsin
GREAT RIVER ROAD FESTIVAL at Stonefield Village Sponsored by Wisconsin State Historical Society
JUNE 22nd
Phoenix Park, Downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin
GREAT RACE Lunch Stop, 1pm-3:30pm One car arrives every minute starting at 1pm and will stay for an hour
JUNE 22nd
Riverside Park La Crosse, Wisconsin
GREAT RACE Overnight Stop, 5:15pm-8:00pm One car arrives every minute starting at 5:15pm for about 90 minutes Cars will be available for viewing for several hours Departure at 9:00am on June 23rd
JUNE 30th
Fort Crawford Museum Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
BITS & PIECES History of Prohibition, Bootlegging, Rum Running & Moonshine Stills Keystone Barbershop Quarter Presenting “Music of the Upper Mississippi River”
AUGUST 10th
Rieck’s Lake Park Alma, Wisconsin
RIECK’S LAKE & TOURIST PARK Celebration of the WIMRPC’s contribution to Rieck’s Lake and recognition of one of the few remaining historic Tourist Parks along the Wisconsin Great River Road
AUGUST 10th
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin St Feriole Island
GREAT RIVER ROAD DAY Co-sponsored by Villa St Louis & Prairie du Chien Parks & Recreation
AUGUST 17th
Wineries at Prescott, Maiden Rock, Alma, Fountain City & Trempealeau, WI
GREAT RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Live Music at the Wineries Sponsored by the Great River Road Wine Trail
AUGUST 21st
National Fish Hatchery Genoa, Wisconsin
GROUNDBREAKING & DEDICATION New Great River Road Interpretive Center
SEPTEMBER
Entire Great River Road System
DRIVE THE GREAT RIVER ROAD PROMOTION
SEPT 6th-8th
Prescott, Wisconsin
PRESCOTT DAZE, Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Great River Road
SEPT 20th-22nd
Alma, Wisconsin and Blank Hill, Waumandee
WAUMANDEE HILL CLIMB Alma to Waumandee event with time trials up Blank Hill, Vintage Vehicles 1983 & Older Sponsored by Minnesota Austin-Healey Club
SEPT 21st
Fountain City, Wisconsin
DEDICATION TO “PIGGY” DUELLMAN Commemorate the 1950 creation of Lower Fountain City & rerouting of Wisconsin Great River Rd
SEPT (date TBD)
Nelson, Wisconsin
NELSON-WABASHA BRIDGE, MISSISSIPPI RIVER CROSSING Buffalo County Historical Society preparing a program on the bridge opened in 1988 and the original bridge built in 1938
For More Info Visit www.wigrr.com
History of the COMMISSION & THE ROAD WISCONSIN MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARKWAY COMMISSION Wisconsin Great River Road 410 Veterans Memorial Dr La Crosse, WI 54601 800-658-9424 info@wigrr.com
The Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) is a multi-state organization that oversees the Great River Road. Working collectively, each state commission fosters the preservation, promotion and enhancement of scenic, historic & recreational resources of the Mississippi River. Throughout its history the volunteers of the MRPC have coordinated efforts on Federal, state and local levels to leverage millions of dollars for highway improvements, recreational trails, interpretive centers, bikeways, scenic overlooks and historic preservation. The Wisconsin Mississippi River Parkway Commission oversee the Wisconsin Great River Road. The WI-MRPC is made up of representatives from communities along the Wisconsin Great River Road.
These communities are among the oldest in the Midwest, with some communities dating to the 1600s. Before European settlement, Native American tribes called the river corridor home. Today, visitors will see remnants of the Oneota, Hopewell and other ancient cultures through the burial mounds and effigy mounds found up and down the Wisconsin Great River Road. The miles of wetlands and untouched riverbottom forests that run along more than two thirds of the Wisconsin Great River Road are a result of an Act of Congress in 1924 that established the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. The beautiful pools and winding channels that you see on the Mississippi River today are a result of the Lock and Dam system built in the 1930s.