Fort Crawford Museum, Little Switzerland Travel Guide

The Fort Crawford Museum in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, stands as a testament to the area's vibrant past. The museum occupies three buildings on the site of the 19th-century Fort Crawford, offering visitors a glimpse into military life, medical advancements, and the development of this important river town.Fort Crawford played a crucial role in the early 1800s, serving as a military outpost and a site for significant historical events. The first Fort Crawford was built in 1816, succeeding Fort Shelby from the War of 1812. It was strategically positioned to regulate the fur trade and maintain peace between settlers and Native American tribes. The Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1825, which defined boundaries between various Indian nations, was negotiated here, marking a pivotal moment in regional history. Recurring floods led to the construction of a second fort in 1828.The museum's exhibits delve into various facets of Prairie du Chien's history. One highlight is the story of Dr. William Beaumont, an army surgeon who conducted groundbreaking research on human digestion at Fort Crawford in the 1830s. Visitors can explore exhibits detailing his experiments and contributions to medical science. The museum also features artifacts from archaeological excavations, displays on the Black Hawk War, and exhibits on the region's early industries, schools, and transportation.The Fort Crawford Museum is an official Great River Road Interpretive Center, linking it to a network of historical and cultural sites along the Mississippi River. It is operated by the Prairie du Chien Historical Society.