The Mississippi River meanders like a vein through the heart of America, with arteries large and small coursing into it as it flows towards the Gulf of Mexico. One of these arteries is the Wisconsin River, hooking up with the Old Man just south of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Like many river towns on the Mississippi, Prairie du Chien is rich in history. Its proximity to the river also makes it a prime destination for travelers in search of recreational activities. Prairie du Chien is considered to be the second-oldest city in Wisconsin (after Green Bay). And although the cities are in opposite corners of the state, their common bond was, strangely enough, the Great Lakes. Prairie du Chien has a natural connection to Lake Michigan via the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, which effectively connects these large bodies of water to the Mississippi. Prairie du Chien translates as “Prairie of the Dog,” named for a Fox Indian leader whose name was Alim, or “dog” in English. Native Americans met peacefully at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers to barter their goods and wares. When the French arrived around 1673 and saw the prairies surrounding the river, they called it Prairie du Chien. The French adeptly made the area into a popular fur trading station. Americans arrived at Prairie du Chien in the early 1800s and quickly established it as a major fur trading center. In 1826, a fur trader named Hercules Dousman moved in as an agent for the American Fur Co. Dousman made a fortune in the fur trade, as well as railroads and steam boating. His mark on Prairie du Chien remains with the luxurious Villa Louis, located on St. Feriole Island. A number of warehouses built by the American Fur Co. still stand on the island. With so much history revolving around Prairie du Chien, one of the things to do when visiting is check it out firsthand. Much of the history involves recreational activities, a perfect blend to exercise the mind and body. There are several historical parks to explore in the area, including Effigy Mounds National Monument, located across the river from Prairie du Chien. Atop towering bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, you’ll find 190 prehistoric burial and ceremonial mounds. Many of these mounds take on the shapes of animals, such as birds and bears. It is thought that Woodland Culture Indians built the mounds between 500 B.C. and A.D. 1300. Reaching the mounds requires a hike up a steep embankment and an hour round-trip walk in and around the mounds via trails. A bit south of Effigy Mounds is Pikes Peak State Park, which offers campsites, picnic grounds and hiking trails with spectacular overlooks of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Another park with great bluff overlooks is Wyalusing State Park, on the south side of the Wisconsin River. Located just 10 miles from Prairie du Chien, the park features camping, picnic grounds, hiking and nature trails. Mark Twain once said, “A river without islands is like a woman without hair.” The Mississippi River has plenty of islands, one of them called St. Feriole Island, adjacent to Prairie du Chien. On St. Feriole Island sits one of America's most authentically restored Victorian homes, the Villa Louis. Louis Dousman and his wife Nina, heirs of Hercules Dousman and frontier entrepreneurs, built the mansion as the centerpiece of a grand country estate. They embellished the house with fine British Arts and Crafts furnishings and decor. The Dousmans left the estate in 1913, and the house languished until the state historical society began restoration in 1998. Finishing touches include detailed draperies, lush wallpapers and carpeting, hand-wrought faux-grain woodwork and embossed wall coverings, as well as original furnishings, artwork and priceless family heirlooms. The Villa Louis is a great place to see how the affluent lived more than a century ago. Prairie du Chien’s strategic location near the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers made it a jumping-off spot in the development of the western frontier. The Fort Crawford Museum guides visitors through the area’s history, beginning with Marquette and Joliet's visit in 1672. In 1829, the old, wooden-structured Fort Crawford was brought down and replaced by one built of native stone. The fort served the military until 1856, hosting people such as Col. Zachary Taylor, Lt. Jefferson Davis and Black (Sparrow) Hawk. The fort was partially refurbished in 1933, and today is designated as a National Historical Landmark.