Hixon House
The Hixon House is a beautiful look back in time at an authentic Victorian home. Begun in 1859 by lumber baron Gideon Hixon, this Italianate house features beautiful woodwork and lavish interior decoration. His wife, Ellen, decorated the Hixon House in the Aesthetic fashion, and it has been preserved much as it was after its last remodeling and redecoration around 1900. The Hixon House has approximately 90% of its original furnishings, making it unusual among historic houses. It is a National Historic Landmark. Phase One of the restoration was finished in 2005.
Swarthout Museum
The Swarthout Museum features changing exhibits about the history of La Crosse County and explores topics ranging from the development of local business to daily life in the past. A large variety of objects, photographs and selected documents from the museum's permanent collection and from regional lenders add depth and breadth to this story. The Historical Society offices and the Golden Lion Book Shop are located here as well.
Riverside Museum
In 1870, the steamboat War Eagle burned and sank at the docks in La Crosse. The Riverside Museum features the largest collection of artifacts brought up from the wreck of the War Eagle, as well as exhibits about the impact that the rivers had on the growth and development of La Crosse. Displays of artifacts from the Mississippi Valley Archaeological Center illustrate the life of the original people of the region.
