The area where La Crosse, Wisconsin, sits dates back to the 1500s. When the Ojibwe tribe arrived, they taught other tribes and French and white settlers the game of lacrosse. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike was sent to claim over 100,000 acres of land. On his journey, he had witnessed lacrosse being played along the eastern Mississippi River. He called the area Prairie de La Crosse, and in 1850, the name was shortened to today's version. Much has changed since Lt. Pike's journey, and in 2022, the city was ranked as the 89th best city to live in the US.

Part of the allure here is cultural, with over thirty art organizations. Originally a single-story house built in 1880, The Pump House has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. The building has expanded over the years and is now home to the Pump House Regional Arts Center. Stage productions, art galleries, a concert series, and more fill up the year-round calendar. The highlight comes at the Artspire community art event. Here you can witness dance and literary arts performances, interactive attractions, and fine arts for sale. You can get directly involved at the La Crosse Community Theater. You can act, usher, be a backstage hand, or enjoy the show. The playhouse has been winning awards since 1966.

Bring the day outside at the Riverside International Friendship Gardens. Enjoy the beautiful public gardens and see and smell the flowers from sister cities worldwide in China, Norway, France, Ireland, and more.

Hixon Forest offers almost 10 miles of trails to hike or bike. There are many hiking trails to explore for a more strenuous day outside. From the trails, you can access Grandad Bluff. The six-hundred-foot bluff is a tourist destination with the city's most spectacular views, Mississippi River Valley, Iowa, and Minnesota. The bluff has been called "the most scenic view in the state."

It is not only car fans who enjoy The Dahl Auto Museum. Here you can see one family's involvement in the auto industry for over 100 years. In the showroom, you view fully restored vehicles from the early 20th century, including a 1911 Ford Model T Roadster, a 1914 Saxon Roadster, and a 1919 Ford Model TT (Ton Truck). Also on display is a re-creation of the Starlite Drive-In, where you can still watch movies of yesteryear. The Dahl family's Ford dealership is the 8th longest continually family owned in the country.

So much culture deserves to be topped off with a gourmet meal, and The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern doesn't disappoint. From the Oysters Rockefeller appetizer to the pork Osso Bucco and prime tenderloin filet, what more can you ask for? A butterscotch Crème Brulee, perhaps?

Unfortunately, not only fine meals attract pests in La Crosse. The bugs can dine on most items in your pantry and crumbs that may have missed the broom. Don't let an infestation take away your enjoyment of the great city, and 1st Defense Pest Solutions is here for you. Our business is locally and family-owned, and we treat our customers like one of us. Contact us today for an estimate.