Photo Courtesy of the Chippewa Valley Museum
Learn how a one sawmill town grew into the Lumber Capital of the Nation!
In its early years, Eau Claire was a young, energetic, up-and-coming lumber town, built around the rivers that brought millions of logs to the city, which during its’ heyday had more sawmills than any place in the world!
The tour starts with its first inhabitants, the Ojibwe and Dakota tribes, then covers the early fur traders, the city’s impressive lumber boom, farming, and steamboat era. The first part of the tour follows the scenic Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers, with a stop at beautiful Phoenix Park, and ends downtown where it shows you what the city was like in the year 1900.
Unfortunately, the logs couldn’t last forever and you will hear how Eau Claire transitioned to the manufacturing, entertainment, and cultural center of northwestern Wisconsin, bringing acts in from throughout the nation and even Europe!
If you want to learn how a city grows into becoming the Lumber Capital of the Nation, and enjoy a scenic walk, this tour is for you!
Points of Interest
Photo courtesy of Chippewa Valley Museum
Eau Claire Opera House
Hosted National and
International Acts
Photo courtesy of Chippewa Valley Museum
Eau Claire Lumber Company
One Of The Nation’s Largest
Lumber Company’s
Photo courtesy of Chippewa Valley Museum
The City’s Steamboat Era
And the Surprising Crop
That Lead the Way
Additional points of interest
Eau Claire Trolley
Eau Claire’s Lumber History
Early Eau Claire Businesses
The Flood of 1884
Eau Claire’s First Settlers
The Union Army’s mascot that came from Eau Claire
Starting Point / Parking
The starting point is the Trust Point sign at 7 S. Dewey Street. You can park in the Library Parking Lot and on the Dewey Street bridge for up to 2 hours for free. You can also park in the Trust Point Building Parking Lot for free Monday through Friday after 5:00 pm and on weekends and can stay there until 10:00 pm.
Route/Vendor Map
The Making of a City:
an Eau ClairE Story
Price: $5.00
Duration: 1 hour
Distance: 2.0 miles
Type: Walking
We have partnered with some of my favorite vendors along the route to offer you some nice, one time only discounts, so stop in and enjoy some local food, drinks, and shopping. Just mention that you did the tour and the discount. Plus, purchasing one tour qualifies you for the discounts on all the tours!
Dining
Free waffle cone upgrade
2. Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub
$5 off any regularly priced entree
$5.00 off any purchase $1.00 off any drink on their menu.
