Set on the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin, La Crosse is a beautiful waterside city with a variety of fun things to see and do for the whole family. La Crosse is home to the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Western Technical College, and Viterbo University and is a local technology and medical hub. There are plenty of cultural and historical institutions to explore from the Riverside Museum, which documents the city’s history, to the Dahl Auto Museum, which boasts beautiful classic cars. The city can be enjoyed from the river on a riverboat cruise, which departs from Riverside Park, or on various walking and hiking trails through Grandad Bluff Park. Here are some of the top things to see and do in the city of La Crosse.
1. Riverside International Friendship Gardens
The Riverside International Friendship Gardens are beautifully landscaped and maintained gardens and grounds in La Crosse in a spectacular setting where the Black, La Crosse, and Mississippi Rivers converge. Situated east of the Visitor’s Bureau at Riverside Park and the La Crosse Convention Center, the gardens span half an acre and feature unique country-themed gardens, including French, Chinese, Russian, Irish, German, and Norwegian gardens. Visitors can explore the gardens alone or enjoy guided tours led by docents and horticulturists, and the gardens are fully accessible for wheelchairs. The Riverside International Friendship Gardens is open every day of the week throughout the year.
345-405 E Veterans Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-789-7533
2. Mount La Crosse
Winter sport enthusiasts will find a varied winter wonderland at the Mount La Crosse Ski Area. The ski area has been a favorite winter haunt since 1959, offering beginners the gentle MIleway Trail, the longest nursery slope in Wisconsin. At the opposite end of the scale, daredevils will enjoy taking on the challenge of the Damnation Trail, the steepest ski trail in the state. Between the 2 extremes skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a total of 18 trials, serviced by a rope tow and 3 double chair lifts. Lessons are available on site and there is also a Terrain Park to explore. Everything you need to enjoy the snow is available at the on-site Pro Shop.
Mount La Crosse Ski Area, Old Town Hall Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601, 608 788 0044
3. Riverside Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Riverside Park is a public park set on the banks of the Mississippi River in the heart of downtown La Crosse. Established in 1911 and initially called Levee Park, Riverside Park is renowned for hosting favorite events throughout the year, such as the Fourth of July fireworks display, Moon Tunes, Riverfest, Oktoberfest, and the Rotary Lights. The park is home to a docking station where the famous steamboats the La Crosse Queen, the Julia Belle Swain, and the American Queen make stops on their journeys up and down the river. Riverside Park also boasts a network of walking and jogging trails, open green spaces for picnicking and relaxing, and serene, shady spots along the banks of the river.
100 Block, State Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
4. Dahl Auto Museum, La Crosse, Wisconsin
The Dahl Auto Museum celebrates classic cars and automobiles and the rich history of car manufacturing in the United States. The family-owned and operated business also gives the nod to the century-long involvement of the Dahl family in the automobile industry, one that has spanned no less than five generations of Dahls. The museum features a comprehensive history of the automobile through the eyes of the world-renowned Ford Motor Company, a display of beautifully restored and maintained classic cars from the turn of the century to the present, and an extensive mascot collection.
711 3rd St S, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-791-6494
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5. Children's Museum of La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
The Children’s Museum of La Crosse is an interactive and immersive museum for children of all ages and features an array of fun and educational exhibits, displays, and programs that encourage learning through play. The museum boasts three floors of interactive exhibits for children up to the age of 12 as well as their adult companions, along with a multipurpose theatre that hosts performances, dance and music events, readings, and more, and a climbing wall for the adventurous spirits. Exhibits are based on educational themes such as rivers and bridges, banks, fire trucks, stores, and libraries, and children are encouraged to spend time exploring, discovering, and learning through play.
207 5th Ave S, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-784-2652
6. Grandad Bluff Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Grandad Bluff Park is a state park with the famous Grandad Bluff cliff at its center. Situated on the east side of La Crosse, Grandad Bluff rests at 1,183 feet above sea level and reaches a height of 590 feet above the surrounding land with breathtaking views of the city. The bluff, which is seen as a symbol of the Coulee Region, can be accessed via Bliss Road, and a park shelter in a fenced-off area at the top of the cliff provides stunning panoramic views of the city, its landmarks, and the spectacular Mississippi River Valley. Grandad Bluff Park also features coin-operated binoculars, a shelter house, and picnic areas at the top of the bluff.
Grandad Bluff Park, La Crosse, Coulee Region, Wisconsin
7. Great River State Trail, La Crosse, Wisconsin
The Great River State Trail is a 24-mile rail trail that runs between Marshland and Onalaska that has been designed as a multiuse trail for recreational purposes. Named for its location of running alongside the Mississippi River, the Great River State Trail is open for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding and is part of the Wisconsin bike trail system. The trail is constructed along the abandoned Chicago and North Western Railway line railroad bed and features 18 bridges that cross over streams feeding into the Mississippi River. The trail is one of four connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin known as the Bike 4 Trails, which run southeast to northwest and include the 400 State Trail (22 miles), the Elroy-Sparta State Trail (32 miles), and the La Crosse River Trail (22 miles). These four trails span approximately one-third of the state.
Between Marshland and Onalaska, Wisconsin
8. Grounded Specialty Coffee, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Located in the heart of Historic Downtown La Crosse, Grounded Specialty Coffee is a cozy coffee bar and café that serves six different types of freshly brewed and locally roasted coffee every day, including a rotating flavored coffee and a cold brew coffee. The friendly neighborhood café also serves an array of local and imported loose leaf tea varieties, several varieties of craft beer and wine, and a small menu of light fare such as made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, paninis, and fresh salads. The café boasts a warm and welcoming atmosphere and stylish décor and comfy seating and is open for early breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days of the week.
3215, 308 Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-784-5282
9. Goose Island County Park
Located on an island in the Mississippi backwaters, about 3 miles from La Crosse, the Goose Island County Park is a great outdoor space with good recreational activities. The park encompasses a large campground where you can pitch your tent and get back to nature for a day or two. A great way to see some resident wildlife is to hop in a canoe or kayak and paddle around the perimeter of the island – you could be lucky enough to see deer, mink and muskrat. Other activities include fishing and hiking in summer and snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing in winter.
Goose Island County Park, W6488 County Rd GI, Stoddard, WI 54658, 608 788 7018
10. La Crosse Loggers Minor League Baseball
The La Crosse Loggers are a minor league baseball team in La Crosse that plays in the collegiate summer Northwoods League. Based at Copeland Park, the La Crosse Loggers are one of 20 teams in the Northwoods League and play 72 games per season, from late May through mid-August. The La Crosse Loggers joined the league in 2003, which is designed to provide minor league competition for NCAA players who want to continue into professional baseball. As a minor league baseball team, the La Crosse Loggers play nightly to fans in Copeland Park and play with wooden bats and minor league specification equipment.
1130 Copeland Park Dr, La Crosse, WI 54603
11. La Crosse River State Trail, La Crosse, Wisconsin
The La Crosse River State Trail is a 22-mile rail trail that runs between Sparta and Onalaska that has been designed as a multiuse trail for recreational purposes. The La Crosse River State Trail is open for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding and is part of the Wisconsin bike trail system. The path is one of four connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin known as the Bike 4 Trails, which that run southeast to northwest and include the 400 State Trail (22 miles), the Elroy-Sparta State Trail (32 miles), and the Great River State Trail (22 miles). These four trails span approximately one-third of the state.
Between Sparta and Onalaska, Wisconsin
12. La Crosse Segway Tours, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Explore La Crosse on an exciting Segway tour through the city without breaking a sweat! Experienced guides lead tours through the city, visiting its more famous and well-known landmarks, as well as some of the lesser-known spots, taking in the sights along the beautiful Mississippi River and sharing their passion and knowledge with guests along the way. Glide effortlessly on a Segway while exploring places often inaccessible by car and covering far more ground than one would on foot. All safety equipment is provided, such as helmets, as well as safety instruction on how to ride a Segway.
319 Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-790-5419
13. Lake Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Lake Onalaska is a 4-mile-wide reservoir set on the Black and Mississippi Rivers between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Located in La Crosse County, the lake spans 7,688 acres, is 43 feet deep at its deepest, and is a popular destination for outdoor activities and recreation such as swimming, boating, fishing, windsurfing, and waterskiing in the summer. The lake’s shorelines are home to a myriad of waterfowl and migrating bird species, which makes for a birdwatching haven, and is well stocked with an abundance of fishing, such as bluegill, crappie, northern pike, small and largemouth bass, and walleye. During the fall, the bluffs surrounding Lake Onalaska and the Mississippi River explode into rich tones of reds and golds, drawing tourists from across the country, while the winter months offer excellent ice fishing and ice sailing.
La Crosse County, Wisconsin
14. Pearl Ice Cream Parlor
Savor a slice of history at the Pearl Ice Cream Parlor – a nostalgic 1930s-style café selling ice cream and sodas, thick, creamy malts and milkshakes, and handmade candies and sweets. An authentic soda fountain serves a variety of flavored fountain sodas, while thick creamy malts are topped with whipped cream, cherries, and other delectable toppings. The shop sells delicious handcrafted chocolates by the piece or the pound as well as old-fashioned candies and sugar cane and over 20 different flavors of homemade ice-cream.
207 Pearl St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-782-6655
15. Rudy's Drive-In, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Rudy’s Drive-In is a classic 1930s-era burger joint with roller-skating carhops and traditional all-American fare. Established in 1933 by Grandpa (Wm.) Rudy, the diner is still as popular today as it was then and still serves the same authentic diner-style fare such as hearty burgers and fries, hot dogs, root beer, and homemade ice cream. The drive-in offers self-service and roller-skating carhops in true drive-in style and hosts special events such as Bike Nights and Cruise Nights throughout the year. Rudy’s Drive-In is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.
1004 La Crosse St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-782-2200
16. St. Rose of Viterbo Convent
The St. Rose of Viterbo Convent is the motherhouse of the American religious congregation known as the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Located on Market Street, the St. Rose of Viterbo Convent is named for and dedicated to Rose of Viterbo, who was a 13th century Franciscan tertiary, notable Italian street preacher, and mystic. The convent features three chapels, including the Adoration Chapel, which is the site of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Mary of the Angels Chapel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
912 Market St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-782-5610
17. The La Crosse Queen, La Crosse, Wisconsin
The La Crosse Queen is one of several modern-day replicas of the late 19th century grand riverboats that once sailed the Mississippi River and offers both public and private cruises from its port in Riverside Park. The magnificent vessel is divided into two levels, namely the upper deck and the lower deck. The lower floor features a dining room and galley, a full-service bar, and modern restrooms, while the upper level is open-sided with a canopy cover that allows guests to enjoy spectacular views while cruising. A large window at the stern of the boat offers excellent views of the working paddlewheels in action. When docked, the La Crosse Queen serves as an office and a gift shop.
405 E Veterans Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-784-8523
18. Turtle Stack Brewery, La Crosse, Wisconsin
The Turtle Stack Brewery is a small independent craft brewery and tasting room that produces high-quality handcrafted beers on tap and by the bottle. Located in Historic Downtown La Crosse, the Turtle Stack Brewery provides local beer for restaurants in La Crosse and the upper Mississippi River Valley. Some of the brewery’s top brews include Smash Golden Ale, Patersbier (Belgian Single), Belgian Blonde, Irish Red, Brown Ale, Foreign Extra Stout, Session IPA, and Imperial ESB.
125 2nd St S, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-519-2284
19. World's Largest Six-Pack, La Crosse, WI
The World’s Largest Six-Pack is a significant landmark featuring six colossal beer tanks that have been painted to resemble a six-pack of beer. Built in the 1960s as the G. Heileman Brewing Company Old Style brewery, and later the La Crosse Brewery, which both went out of business, the building was converted into the giant six-pack, which fast became a hometown icon and popular tourist attraction. The structures can be explored on guided tours through the City Brewery, where guests can learn more about the history of the buildings and enjoy the smell of the beer being brewed.
3rd St S, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-785-4200
20. Digger's Sting Restaurant, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Digger’s Sting Restaurant is an old-fashioned steakhouse in the heart of La Crosse that serves prime cut steaks, fresh seafood, and an array of sides along with handcrafted cocktails and other libations in a friendly and relaxed setting. Located on 3rd Street N, Digger's Sting offers a laidback dining experience with excellent food and drinks, outstanding service, and a comfortable, cozy ambiance. The menu features a variety of made-from-scratch fare such as prime grade steaks cooked to perfection, freshly caught seafood, and homemade pasta dishes, all of which are served with fresh salads and sides. Decadent desserts are also on the menu for those with a sweet tooth, and the full-service bar provides an extensive selection of fine wines from around the world as well as imported spirits, artisan and craft beers, and more. Digger’s Sting Restaurant is open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, and dinner only on Saturdays.
122 3rd St N, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-782-3796
21. Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a deeply spiritual place which attracts visitors from all over America and beyond. The Shine was built between 2005 and 2008 to celebrate the miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1531, in what is today Mexico City. The shrine covers about 100 acres of beautifully laid-out gardens, devotional places, a pilgrimage trail with Stations of the Cross, a rosary walk and the lovely Shrine Church. The site welcomes thousands of devoted pilgrims each year and everyone who would like to spend a few hours in this serene place is very welcome to visit – you can plan your visit or pilgrimage on their website.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5250 Justin Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601, 877 799 4059
22. Pump House Regional Arts Center
Pump House Regional Arts Center should be a must-visit attraction during your stay in La Crosse. The Pump House was founded in 1977 in a bid to improve the cultural quality of life in La Crosse through maintaining the historic Pump House as a center of visual and performing arts. To this end, the non-profit center hosts a full calendar of art exhibitions which showcase the visual arts of a wide range of local and national artists. The performing arts arm hosts various theatrical performances as well as story-telling festivals, a film club and much more. All the proceeds from ticket sales are utilized to offer free exhibitions for everyone to attend and enjoy.
Pump House Regional Arts Center, 119 King Street, La Crosse, WI 54601, 608 785 1434
23. Myrick Park Center
Nestled in the heart of a beautiful outdoor oasis, yet located just 5 minutes from downtown La Crosse, the Myrick Park Center is a popular wedding and event venue. The center is adjacent to the La Crosse River Marsh, and boasts extensive views of woodlands, wetlands, native prairies and the La Crosse bluffs. The Nature Center offers a variety of fun and interesting programs for children (from as young as 2 years of age) and adults, aimed at fostering a love of the natural environment and all its inhabitants. Visitors can also enjoy a few pleasant hours of hiking along the Myrick Park Trail System which connects to the Hixon Forest Trails.
Myrick Park Center, 789 Myrick Park Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601, 608 782 2494
24. La Crosse Amtrak Station
It’s not often that the local Amtrak train station features as a tourist attraction, but the La Cross Amtrak station is a little different. The station was built in 1927 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad and still serves the public today. The station forms part of Amtrak’s Great American Stations project, which aims to preserve and restore historic train stations across the US. The historic building has a beautiful interior with original marble surfaces, passenger benches and a wooden ticket counter. More modern additions include vending machines and accessible restrooms. Today the station is still serviced by Amtrak’s daily Empire Builder service which runs across the American West from Chicago to Seattle.
La Cross Amtrak Station, 601 St. Andrew St, La Crosse, WI 54601, 800 872 7245
25. Hixon House
On a mission to protect and showcase the history of La Crosse County, the La Crosse Country Historical Society would be happy to arrange for you to tour the historic Hixon House. The house was built in 1858 by Gideon Hixon, one of the county’s pioneer settlers. The elegant Italianate home has been beautifully preserved and restored and is filled with many original period pieces which belonged to the family. A tour of this grand old dame offers an accurate insight into the life and times of the Hixon family and their peers. Tours of the house are docent led and need to be booked in advance.
Hixon House, 429 7th Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601, 608 782 1980
What is La Crosse, Wisconsin known for? What to do. What are the top attractions to visit in La Crosse, Wisconsin?
The top attractions to visit in La Crosse, Wisconsin according to local experts are:
- Riverside International Friendship Gardens
- Mount La Crosse
- Riverside Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Dahl Auto Museum, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Children's Museum of La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
- Grandad Bluff Park, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Great River State Trail, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Grounded Specialty Coffee, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Goose Island County Park
- La Crosse Loggers Minor League Baseball
- La Crosse River State Trail, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- La Crosse Segway Tours, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Lake Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Pearl Ice Cream Parlor
- Rudy's Drive-In, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- St. Rose of Viterbo Convent
- The La Crosse Queen, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Turtle Stack Brewery, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- World's Largest Six-Pack, La Crosse, WI
- Digger's Sting Restaurant, La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Pump House Regional Arts Center
- Myrick Park Center
- La Crosse Amtrak Station
- Hixon House
Attraction Spotlight: Riverside International Friendship Gardens
The Riverside International Friendship Gardens is a collection of stunning public gardens that celebrate the relationship La Crosse, WI has with its sister-cities in Ireland, Norway, Russia, France, Germany, and China. The gardens are open to the public at any time Riverside Park is open. The gardens are designed to be a beautiful reflection of the appreciation the city has for the different cultures that all share this planet.
Visitors are greeted by two stone dragons as they enter the Chinese Garden, which celebrates La Crosse’s sister-city of Luoyang in China. The walled garden is reflective of the walled gardens of noblemen in ancient China. The small space symbolizes the entire world represented in a single small garden. Feng Shui was used in the garden’s design to create a free-flowing movement and bring good fortune. Unique forms of plants, architecture, water, and rocks are all part of the Chinese Garden.
The German Garden at the Riverside International Friendship Gardens was inspired by Friedberg, La Crosse’s sister-city in Germany. In southern Germany, fruiting shrubs, roses, and hydrangea fill the gardens during the summertime. The rock garden set atop a hill echoes a mountain slope and features dwarf conifers, as well as short, tough plants. Visitors will find a fountain in the garden’s friendship square, or Gemeutlichkeitplatz, as well as a pocket watch sculpture almost six feet high by Wolfgang Auer.
France’s Epinal, a city full of flowers, served as the inspiration behind the French Garden, which features a more formal design. The garden’s includes a pavilion that overlooks a rose gardens, a patterned garden, and a knot garden. This knot garden features a parterre and cut hedges that form a geometric pattern. The walk through the French Garden is lined with topiaries. Imported roses from Epinal, as well as a collection of daylily and hydrangea, are also featured in the garden.
Visitor may be able to catch a glimpse of a face behind a small waterfall, as well as several trolls, in the Norway Garden. Plants typically found on a farm in Norway are also on display in the garden, such as blueberries, strawberries, and rhubarb. Shrub roses introduced to the garden include the Sigrud, Sven, Lena, and Ole types. Digitalis, Norway’s national flower, adds more color to the garden. Guests enter the Norway Garden through its stunning “torvtak,” which is reflective of the sod-roofed structures often seen in Norway.
Gardens in Russia are typically informal, aiming to create a natural setting. This can be seen in the Russian Garden at the Riverside International Friendship Gardens. The trees of the garden are displayed in groves. A beautiful structure along the river called a besedka can be seen by visitors, similar to the one that exists in Dubna, La Crosse’s sister-city in Russia.
The Ireland Garden features a riverside amphitheater, as well as a mill wheel modeled after a larger version in Bantry in Ireland. A Celtic cross pattern can be seen in the center of the garden’s walkway. Filling the garden are plants suggestive to the green of the country of Ireland, such as wildflowers, mosses, ferns, hostas, and hydrangeas.
405 East Veterans Memorial Drive, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-791-4769
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Attraction Spotlight: Children’s Museum of La Crosse
The Children’s Museum of La Crosse, WI opened its doors to the community in 1999. The museum aims to celebrate the value of play for children through its three floors of interactive exhibits, as well as educational programs and more. The purpose of the children’s museum is not only for kids to have fun, but also the help with the development of foundations for personal and academic success. The Children’s Museum of La Crosse is not only a space for children of the local La Crosse community to enjoy, but welcomes residents of other regions throughout the state and visitors from across the country as well.
There are numerous different hands-on exhibits throughout the three floors of the Children’s Museum of La Crosse designed to teach children while they’re having fun. The Fire Truck exhibit lets kids dress up as a firefighter and practice putting out “fires” with a hose. Children can practice their “stop, drop, and roll,” turn on the lights of a fire truck, and drive the truck as well. Kids can also practice climbing or sliding their way to safety, and families can talk about their plan at home in case of a fire.
Climbing can help with children’s willingness to take on small risks and confidence, as well as improve motor skills. This is why the Children’s Museum of La Crosse has introduced the Luckey Climber, the first one in the state of Wisconsin. The Climber is unique structure for climbing that is part artwork and part jungle gym.
The climbing structure was designed specifically for the Children’s Museum and stretches two entire stories. Featured at the top and bottom of the structure’s climbing platforms are the eye of sixty different animals. This eye theme showcases the natural world’s captivating beauty, as well emphasizes the fact that humans are just one of the countless number of animals on Earth. The Clumber provides a fun adventure for children and those young at heart while also providing challenges that promote problem-solving and spatial thinking.
The Dino Maze at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse tests and expands visitors knowledge of the Mesozoic Era as they navigate their way back through one hundred and million years. Visitors of all ages will find a few dead ends, as well as plenty of activities and surprises that will test their bodies and minds as they try to find their way through the maze. Guests will see replicas of various dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and more.
The Children’s Museum’s Imagination Playground is a space designed for to let the imagination of children run wild. Kids have endless possibilities of things to create from the playground’s large blue blocks, including towers, forts, roads, and much more. Imaginative building encourages problem-solving, planning, creativity, and cooperation.
Children can direct the water’s flow through dams and locks, catch fish, and float boats in the Rivers and Bridges section of the Children’s Museum of La Crosse. Kids can play with trains, as well as other vehicles, and connect tracks at the exhibit’s huge train table. Among the several other hands-on activities in the exhibit, children can also design and build several types of bridges.
207 5th Avenue South, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-784-2652
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Attraction Spotlight: Dahl Auto Museum
Visitors to the Dahl Auto Museum in Wisconsin can take a walk through the automotive past as they explore the museum’s showroom. Guests can immerse themselves in the automotive industry’s rich history as they view automobiles dating back to over a century ago. Any car enthusiast will enjoy exploring the history of the automobile, the most widely used form of transportation in the country.
The Dahl Auto Museum is a celebration of the role the Dahl family has played as automotive dealers for five generations over a time period of more than one hundred years. The museum also highlights the history of the automotive industry through the perspective of the Ford Motor Company. An extensive collection of Ford automobiles dating back to the year 1911 up through present day are on display in the museum. These classic automobiles have been carefully restored back to their former glory.
Dahl Automotive in La Crosse is the country’s ninth oldest family-owned Ford dealership. The rich history of the Dahl family is a legacy in progress in itself as they continue growing alongside the industry of automotives. The family takes a great amount of pride in their involvement in the local community of La Crosse. The Dahl Auto Museum was in fact created specifically to give something back and to share the historical automotive treasures with the La Crosse community.
The Dahl Auto Museum includes an educational component for the benefit of civic groups and school groups. The museum also partners with the La Crosse Historical Society to hold special events, such as its annual “Remember When” event during which guests share tales of the past and dress in historical attire. One of the most popular attractions in the Dahl Museum is its Starlite Drive-In. The Drive-In is a tribute to the old La Crosse drive-in theater of the past, which once existed from 1949 until 1978 on Highway 33. The museum’s theater shows classic, old films and represents the spirit of a time where drive-in theaters were popular.
There are numerous historical Ford automobiles on display in the Dahl Auto Museum’s Showroom. One of the oldest models in the Showroom created by Ford Motors is the 1911 Ford Model T Roadster. All of the Model T’s features tops, brass headlamps, and windshields. They also included brass kerosene tail lights and side lamps.
The 1919 Ford Model TT, or Ton Truck, was the result of seeing the Model T being transformed into a truck for many years. After a while, Henry Ford decided he wanted in on the action. The Model TT, based on the original Model T car, rated at an entire ton with a heavier frame. A speed of no more than fifteen miles per hours was recommended with the Ton Truck.
The 1955 Ford Thunderbird was designed by Ford to compete with the Corvette of Chevrolet. The T-Bird featured a larger and more powerful V8 engine compared to Chevrolet’s Corvette. Also on display at the Dahl Auto Museum is a 1969 Ford Mustang Cobra JET.
711 3rd Street South, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Phone: 608-791-6494
