 Fur Trade Routes (1) |
 Fur Traders (2) |
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Fur traders (above) came through the area to trap game and trade with the Natives but no one established a permanent settlement in La Crosse until 1841. It was these early fur traders, however, who gave the name Prairie La Crosse to the region. Nathan Myrick, the first permanent European resident in La Crosse, was involved with this trade. |
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European Visitors (« Prev | Next »)
Most of the first Europeans to the area were either fur traders or explorers. Between the early 17th century and the late 18th century, though the territory was still rather unknown, there was limited contact between the Native Americans and Europeans. As time progressed, the European presence expanded in the La Crosse region. Click a map to expand it.
Stephen Long Expedition (3)
Territorial Maps (4)
Explorers such as Zebulon Pike and Stephen Long recorded the best early descriptions we have of the La Crosse area. These explorers, usually dispatched by the U.S. government, were sent to map and document the unknown territory.