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Great River Road Learning & Visitor Center @ Freedom Park, Prescott, WI
CopyRight 2009, All Rights Reserved
Designed and maintained by:
M-Vision Web Design
The Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center is nestled within Freedom Park, a historic Park perched above the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers in Prescott, Wisconsin. Not only are the views scenic, it is an ideal place for birding or catching a glimpse of other wildlife. American bald eagles and peregrine falcons soar above the rivers' confluence and the park's native plant gardens and prairie bluffs provide cover for butterflies, migrating birds, and other animals like squirrels, chipmunks and red fox. Children of all ages can enjoy the fun playground just outside the Center’s doors.
STORIES
Visitors discover and enjoy the unique stories of this region through hands-on, audio-visual exhibits in the Center. From Dakota people who lived at the rivers' confluence for centuries, to newcomers who made a living through fishing and boatbuilding, to those who piloted the steamboats that transported people, products, and ideas along the Mississippi from New Orleans to the Twin Cities, the stories of this region are told through the individuals who lived them.
WHY “FREEDOM”
How Freedom Park got its name is connected to a national celebration organized in Washington D.C. to honor U.S. service people held as prisoners-of-war or missing-in-action during the wars the United States fought throughout the 20th Century.
Click here to read more about how Freedom Park got its name and came to be.
Hours of Operation
Spring Center Hours
Feb. 1 – Memorial Day
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–5 p.m. Monday: Closed
Summer Center Hours
Memorial Day – Labor Day
Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (Lobby and restrooms open until 8 p.m.)
Sunday: Noon–6 p.m. (Lobby and restrooms open until 8 p.m.)
Fall Center Hours
Labor Day – Nov. 30
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–5 p.m. Monday: Closed
Winter Center Hours
Dec. 1 – Jan. 31
Monday–Friday: Closed
Saturday: 11 a.m–4 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–4 p.m.
Click here for directions to the GRRVLC.
Great River Road - One River, Ten States
Imagine a parkway following the entire length of the Mississippi River from its source in Lake Itasca, Minnesota to its great delta in Louisiana! In 1936 visionaries began to talk about just such a parkway. They formed a parkway planning group, now known as the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC). Subsequently each of the 10 states that border both sides of this great river valley formed their own state commissions. As diverse as these states are, they share one of the greatest waterways in the world. Flowing over 2,300 miles from north to south, it travels through ecosystems that change throughout its length from northern pine forests to alluvial delta. Yet this river is not a divide but a common thread uniting the regions of America through which it flows.
The early visionaries wanted to build a road that would carry people through the diversity of America and allow them to experience its diversity. The Great River Road is the gateway to towns and regions that slice through the multi-sided American experience. From north to south and east bank to west bank, the Great River Road provides a sampling of the regional diversity that is the heart and soul of America. Today there are 69 museums and historic sites in the Great River Road network. To find out more about these sites and where they are located follow these links:
Click here for the National Great River Road website.
Click here for the Wisconsin Great River Road website.
National Scenic Byways - Showcases of America's Natural and Cultural Heritage
National Scenic Byways, a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation, recognizes, preserves, and enhances selected roads throughout the United States judged to be exemplary showcases of the nation's natural or historical heritage. Visitors driving through these byways encounter a wide divergence of archeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational and scenic experiences.
The Great River Road, which follows the 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River, is the nation’s first designated scenic byway. Discover the natural beauty and cultural heritage along the Byways and experience Americana as varied as the regions through which the roads travel. Wisconsin's Great River Road showcases 250 miles of the mighty Mississippi River and its magnificent valley and is one of the most scenic drives in America.
Click here for the National Scenic Byways website.
National Park Service and the Mississippi River
Established in 1988, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area includes 72 miles of the Mississippi River stretching from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey to just south of Hastings, Minnesota, directly across from Prescott, Wisconsin. The segment of the river flowing through the National Park has always been of major significance as a spiritual site, a place for recreation, and a tourist attraction.
Click here for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area website.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway – A River To Explore
The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers offer 252 miles of clean water gliding past a lush green landscape, with glimpses of a human presence. Choose to canoe and camp amid the northwoods or boat and fish surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. This river corridor provides a wealth of scenic views and a haven for wildlife near a major metropolitan area. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway begins at the mouth of the St. Croix River at Prescott, Wisconsin.
Click here for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway website.
Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce – Gateway to the Great River Road
The Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce promotes the whole Prescott Community whether it be economic, industrial, professional, cultural, educational, or civic in nature. The Chamber has averaged over 100 businesses, individuals, and organizations as members in the last few years. By working together, this dedicated group of people have made Prescott a better place in which to live, work, and visit.
Click here for the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce website.