National Register of Historic Places

Old Rock School

Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, Wisconsin
Listed
December 1, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83004265

About this property

The Old Rock School is a historic school building on the east side of U.S. Highway 18 at Parrish Street in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Prairie du Chien opened its first public school in 1846, though private schools operated as far back as the 1810s. The town built the Old Rock School in 1858 after outgrowing its original schoolhouse, as its population grew rapidly in the 1850s. The two-and-a-half story stone building cost nearly $4,000 and was funded through a special tax approved by the Wisconsin Legislature, as state law at the time only allowed school districts to raise $300 in taxes. The building had a Greek Revival design with a Palladian window on the attic level, a wooden canopy over the entrance, and a cupola atop the gable roof. The school operated until 1926; the building went on to serve as a community center and meeting area for local groups. In the 1980s, a memorial was added to the site to honor local soldiers who served in wars from the Black Hawk War to World War II.

Location

Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, Wisconsin
43.03358, -91.13680

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTEDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

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Geology
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Fort Crawford Military Hospital
Early Republic
0.9 mi
Fay, Benjamin F., and Wilhelmina House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Prairie Du Chien Post Office
Industrial
1.3 mi
Folsom, W.H.C., House
Industrial
1.4 mi
Commercial Hotel
Industrial
1.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Crawford Engagements 1814
1814Early Republic
1.2 mi
Battle of Prairie du Chien
1814Early Republic
1.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Rock School listed on the National Register?

Old Rock School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 1, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Old Rock School?

Old Rock School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Rock School?

The period of significance for Old Rock School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Rock School?

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