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!

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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. This collection of roads runs 3000 miles from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

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.

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!

C E L E B R A T I N G 7 5 Y E A R S

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 river-bottom 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.

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.

H i s t o r y o f t h e C O M M I S S I O N & T H E R O A D

For More Info Visit

www.wigrr.com

75th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS DATE

MAY 17th-18th

JUNE 5th

JUNE 8th

JUNE 15th

JUNE 22nd

JUNE 22nd

JUNE 30th

AUGUST 10th

AUGUST 10th

AUGUST 17th

AUGUST 21st

SEPTEMBER

SEPT 6th-8th

SEPT 20th-22nd

SEPT 21st

SEPT (date TBD)

COMMUNITY Stoddard to Seneca

State Capitol

Madison, Wisconsin

Alma Historical Society

Alma, Wisconsin

Stonefield Village, GRR Interpretive Center

Cassville, Wisconsin

Phoenix Park, Downtown

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Riverside Park

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Fort Crawford Museum

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Rieck’s Lake Park

Alma, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

St Feriole Island

Wineries at Prescott, Maiden Rock, Alma,

Fountain City & Trempealeau, WI

National Fish Hatchery

Genoa, Wisconsin

Entire Great River Road System

Prescott, Wisconsin

Alma, Wisconsin and

Blank Hill, Waumandee

Fountain City, Wisconsin

Nelson, Wisconsin

EVENT 70 MILE RUMMAGE ALONG THE RIVER

Ribbon Cutting & Opening, Sale Runs From Stoddard to Seneca

WISCONSIN MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARYWAY COMMISSION DAY

Signing of the 75th Anniversary Proclamation By Governor Scott Walker

MAIN STREET BECOMES THE “GREAT RIVER ROAD”

Impact On A National Historic District, Alma, Wisconsin

Sponsored by Alma Historical Society

GREAT RIVER ROAD FESTIVAL at Stonefield Village

Sponsored by Wisconsin State Historical Society

GREAT RACE Lunch Stop, 1pm-3:30pm

One car arrives every minute starting at 1pm and will stay for an hour

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

BITS & PIECES

History of Prohibition, Bootlegging, Rum Running & Moonshine Stills

Keystone Barbershop Quarter Presenting “Music of the Upper Mississippi River”

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

GREAT RIVER ROAD DAY

Co-sponsored by Villa St Louis & Prairie du Chien Parks & Recreation

GREAT RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Live Music at the Wineries

Sponsored by the Great River Road Wine Trail

GROUNDBREAKING & DEDICATION

New Great River Road Interpretive Center

DRIVE THE GREAT RIVER ROAD PROMOTION

PRESCOTT DAZE, Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Great River Road

WAUMANDEE HILL CLIMB

Alma to Waumandee event with time trials up Blank Hill, Vintage Vehicles 1983 & Older

Sponsored by Minnesota Austin-Healey Club

DEDICATION TO “PIGGY” DUELLMAN

Commemorate the 1950 creation of Lower Fountain City & rerouting of Wisconsin Great River Rd

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

WISCONSIN MISSISSIPPI

RIVER PARKWAY

COMMISSION

Wisconsin Great River Road

410 Veterans Memorial Dr La Crosse, WI 54601

800-658-9424 info@wigrr.com