National Historic Landmark

Dousman Hotel

Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, Wisconsin
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000122

About this property

The Dousman Hotel, is a historic hotel located at the intersection of Fisher Street and River Road in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The hotel was built in 1864–65 to serve railroad and steamboat travelers coming to the city. The hotel was named after Hercules L. Dousman, an early Wisconsin fur trader, land speculator and millionaire. The hotel operated until the 1920s; it was later converted to a meatpacking plant. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960 for its significance as one of the last grand hotels to survive from the 19th century railroad and steamboat era. In the early 21st century, it was undergoing restoration. Its ground floor has opened as a restaurant and event venue known as the Dousman House.

Location

Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, Wisconsin
43.05387, -91.15986

Categories

COMMERCEEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Dousman Hotel

This page lists Dousman Hotel. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Dousman Hotel report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Brisbois, Michael, House
Industrial
0 mi
Rolette House
Industrial
0 mi
Astor Fur Warehouse
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Villa Louis
Listed
0.2 mi
St. Germain dit Gauthier House
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Prairie du Chien
1814Early Republic
1 mi
Battle of Prairie du Chien — First
1814Early Republic
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Dousman Hotel listed on the National Register?

Dousman Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Dousman Hotel?

Dousman Hotel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Dousman Hotel a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Dousman Hotel has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Dousman Hotel?

The period of significance for Dousman Hotel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Dousman Hotel?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Dousman Hotel will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Crawford County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Crawford County.

Explore CrawfordCounty ›

More historic places in Wisconsin

Browse all historic places in Wisconsin.

View Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Wisconsin history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Wisconsinhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Dousman Hotel will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report