— Nov 25, 2020
Digging into the Past - The LPL Archives Celebrates 40 Years of Service
Almost 100 years after the La Crosse Public Library opened its doors in November 1888, the Archives and Local History program began to serve the public in December of 1980.
— Nov 9, 2020
Is it Odd or Even: The Alternate-Side Parking Issue
Approaching winter weather in La Crosse means…alternate-side overnight street parking! But what precipitated this contentious parking ordinance in La Crosse?
— Oct 28, 2020
Presidential Visits: Truman, Ford, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama
9 different U.S. Presidents have made a total of 11 official visits to La Crosse.
— Oct 13, 2020
The Cannon in Riverside Park
Today, the cannon serves as a multi-war memorial, but where did it come from and why is it in Riverside Park?
— Sep 29, 2020
Sawmills, Nails and Immigrants
In 1852 the first steam powered sawmill opened in La Crosse. To understand why that was so important to La Crosse we need to connect it to several other facts.
— Sep 15, 2020
Explore the Layered History of La Crosse
This September, LPLA is launching a History Club. Functioning similar to a book club, each month the club facilitators will announce two small activities that will explore our city's layered history.
— Sep 1, 2020
The Green Bay & Western Railroad Legacy
Behind the scenes deals were already in place between the Green Bay railroad and the Chicago and Northwestern, arch rival of the CM&StP, to form a partnership as a way for both lines to get into La Crosse and cross over the existing railroad tracks.
— Aug 18, 2020
LPL Archives' Hidden Treasures: Using La Crosse History Unbound
In collaboration with the UWL Murphy Library Special Collections & Area Research Center, the La Crosse Public Library Archives has launched an upgraded version of the La Crosse History Unbound site, which has new resources and features to help researchers.
— Aug 4, 2020
Presidential Visits: William Howard Taft in 1909
President William Howard Taft’s visit on September 17, 1909 had a local connection and a specific purpose – his Yale classmate and La Crosse civic leader George W. Burton invited him here to dedicate the city’s new YMCA building at Seventh and Main Streets.
— Jul 21, 2020
Concrete Block Houses
A look at a local DIY building boom, or at least a "boomlet", using home-made concrete blocks.
— Jul 9, 2020
Unconditional Gifts of Time, Talents & Treasures
Since its beginning in 1980, the La Crosse Public Library Archives (LPLA) has relied on the generous donation of time, talents and treasures from the public and other cultural resource institutions to become the local history resource that it is today.
— Jun 22, 2020
Relics of the Old Post Office
Near the entrance of the La Crosse Post Office, there is a series of terra cotta tiles on display. With no context or informative panel nearby, they seem to be mysterious relics of the past. These artifacts are among the only remaining materials left of the Old Post Office.