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Begin your tour at the village square on Main Street in
Galesville.
SITE 1. GALESVILLE was called a “Garden of Eden” by early
settlers because of the surrounding lush forests, fertile
prairie and clean spring water. There are many well preserved
historic homes and businesses in town.
From Galesville follow Main Street (Hwy 53) south to the stop
light. Turn right(west) and drive on Hwy 54/93 to Hwy K. Turn
left (south) on Hwy K and drive to the intersection with Hwy
M, bear left on to Hwy M and proceed south about 2 miles to
the intersection with Wagner Road. Turn right (west) on to
Wagner road and drive about 1 1/2 miles to the concrete round
barn on the south side at W21937 Wagner Road.
SITE 2. This unusual poured CONCRETE ROUND BARN is the last
remaining round barn in Trempealeau County and perhaps the
only existing concrete round barn in the state. PLEASE NOTE
!!! THIS BARN IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY!!!!
From the round barn continue west on Wagner Road to Hwy K.
Turn left on Hwy K and continue about 1 1/2 miles to 3rd
Street in Trempealeau. Turn right (west) on 3rd Street (Hwy
35) and drive about 1/2 mile to downtown Trempealeau.
SITE 3. The TREMPEALEAU historic commercial district
features the reknowned Trempealeau Hotel. Other attractions in
the Trempealeau area include Perrot State Park and the 24 mile
long Great River Bike Trail.
Follow Main Street (Hwy 35) north out of Trempealeau 4 miles
to the intersection with Hwy 54 and the unincorporated village
of Centerville.
SITE 4. Tiny CENTERVILLE is the home of the Centerville
Curling Club located east of the intersection on Hwy 35/54.
The sport of curling is a hybrid of shuffleboard and bowling
that has its origins on the frozen rivers of Scotland 500
years ago.
From Centerville continue north on Hwy 93 about 4 miles to Fox
Coulee Road, turn right (east) and drive on Fox Coulee Road
about 1 mile to Sobye Lane and continue to the end of the lane
to the museum.
SITE 5. THE BRUSH TROPHY ROOM MUSEUM is the largest bow and
arrow harvested wild animal museum in the world. The
multi-story 14,000 sq. ft. walk-through trophy room presents
over 250 animals from several continents in a re-created
natural habitat enhanced with realistic sounds and lighting.
From the Brush Museum return to Hwy 93, turn right (north) and
drive about 8 miles over Sky Line Drive with two scenic
overlooks to the intersection with Hwy 95. Turn left (west)
and drive about 1 1/2 miles on Hwy 95 to Main Street in
downtown Arcadia.
SITE 6. ARCADIA based Ashley Furniture Co. is one of the
leading furniture manufacturers in the nation Arcadia is also
the site of the recently developed Memorial Park which
features a historic “Soldier’s Walk”.
From Arcadia follow Hwy 95 east back to the junction with Hwy
93 and proceed east on Hwy 95 almost 5 miles to the junction
with Hwy N. Turn left on Hwy N and drive about 3 miles to the
church on the north side of Hwy N between Square Bluff Road
and Hwy D.
SITE 7. The FAGERNESS CHURCH is located close to the
geographic center of Trempealeau County. The church was named
after one of the early church founders; the name Fagerness
means “Fair Point” in English.
From the Fagerness Church take Hwy D south (turn to the right)
and drive about 2 miles to the intersection with Hwy 95. Turn
left (east) and drive to the intersection with Hwy 53. Turn
right and continue east on Hwy 53/95 into Blair. Turn left on
Hwy 95 and drive into Blair.
SITE 8. BLAIR. In the 1930s Blair was the self-touted “Egg
Center of Wisconsin” and a large cheese factory continues to
operate in Blair today. The Norwegian heritage of the
community is reflected in the presence of the regionally
important lefse factory.
From Blair follow Broadway Street (Hwy S) east to on the edge
of town. Drive south on Hwy S about 6 miles to the junction
with Hwy C.
SITE 9. The tiny rural hamlet of HEGG is located at the
intersection of Hwy S and Hwy C. This small community was
named in honor of Civil War hero Col. Hans Heg, commader of
the heavily Norwegian Fifteenth Regiment of Wisconsin.
From Hegg, turn right on Hwy C and drive 2 miles to the
intersection with Hwy 53 at Beach Corners. Turn left and
continue south about 2 1/2 miles on Hwy 53 to Ettrick.
SITE 10. The village of ETTRICK was named by the early
Scots settlers of this area for the Ettrick Forest, located in
the rugged wooded uplands of northern Scotland. The Ettrick
and Northern Railroad rail spur built in 1915, ran 10 miles
north to Blair but never prospered and was abandoned in 1938.
From downtown Ettrick follow Main Street south out of town to
Hwy D. Drive east less than 2 miles on Hwy D to the
intersection with Hwy DD. Turn right (south) on to Hwy DD and
go south about 5 miles to Hwy 54. Turn right (west) on to Hwy
54 and drive about 8 miles west to Galesville and the end of
the tour.
Or.....drive less than one mile on Hwy 54 to River Drive. Turn
left on to River Drive and proceed with great caution!. Drive
about 5 miles on River Drive and return to Hwy 54.
RIVER DRIVE LOOP (Optional)
River Drive is a single track gravel township road that is
designated Wisconsin Rustic Road #91. The Rustic Roads program
in Wisconsin identifies and seeks to preserve lightly traveled
country roads that have outstanding natural beauty or historic
value. This road runs about 5 miles over rugged wooded terrain
and descends into the bottomlands of the Black River. This is
a true back country road and may not be passable in the winter
or during wet periods.
Total Tour
Distance - Approximately 80 miles Total Tour Time -
Approximately 3 hours
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