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Eau Claire County
Attractions
Shaped
by the ice and water of the last great northern glacier and settled
first by Woodland Indians, Eau Claire County offers close contact
with its ice-age past and diverse cultural heritage! Visitors
will find breath-taking views of the glacier's handiwork, native
wildlife and nature preserves, artifacts and effects of the vibrant
Ojibway (Chippewa) Indian community, an authentic reproduction
of an 1890's lumber camp, and a thriving, self-sufficient Amish
Community living and farming today much as their ancestors did
150 years ago.
Located at the
junction of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers, the county seat,
Eau Claire (French for "clear water") was one of the
state's busiest lumber towns in the 1800's. After the timber ran
out, Eau Claire became a major agricultural and industrial center.
At Eau Claire's Carson Park, all-time major league home run hitter,
Henry Aaron, batted his first minor league hit. History buffs,
railroad enthusiasts and baseball fans come back time and again
to explore the educational, historic, and fun attractions
found in Carson
Park; the ballpark and Hank Aaron Memorial, the Chippewa Valley
Railroad, the Sunnyview One-Room School, the Chippewa Valley Museum,
the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, the Anderson Log Home and the Historic
Schlegelmilch House.
Eau Claire County's
extensive trails, along the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers, offer
breath-taking views to hikers and bicyclists in summer and snowmobilers
in winter. Nature lovers will be exhilarated by diversity of habitats
and wildlife observed in the Beaver Creek Reserve, including bears,
wild turkeys and tufted titmice. Be sure to bring your camera.
Photography blinds are located at key viewing points throughout
the reserve.
The University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a popular center for area artistic,
cultural and learning activities. The University offers musical,
dance and theatrical productions and year round public access
to the remarkable James Newman Clark Bird Museum, the Phillips
Science Hall Greenhouse and L. E. Phillips Planetarium. The Fanny
Hill Dinner Theatre, Chippewa Valley Symphony, Chippewa Valley
Theatre Guild, Wisconsin North Youth Ballet and Eau Claire Regional
Arts Council present variety-filled seasons of touring and resident
artists and productions that delight residents and visitors alike
throughout the year.
Eau Claire County
establishments offer delectable dining, from fast-food outlets
to exquisite cuisine and lodging accommodations ranging from Victorian
suites to backpacking campsites.
Whether visiting for a
day or staying for a lifetime, there's a lot to discover and enjoy
for everyone in Eau Claire County!
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Museums and Historical
Sites
Chippewa Valley
Museum
1404 Carson
Park Drive, Eau Claire
715-834-7871
See award-winning, professionally designed exhibits about Ojibwa
Indians, the area's first towns and industries, and early farm
life. Enjoy a treat in a turn of the 20th century ice
cream parlor, marvel at an eight-foot, 21-room dollhouse, and
find unique gifts and books in the museum store. Open year-round
Tues.-Sun. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Summer 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily.
Paul Bunyan
Logging Camp
1110 Carson
Park Dr., Eau Claire
715-835-6200
Bigger than life, Paul Bunyan and his faithful blue ox, Babe, welcome visitors
at the entrance of this authentic replica of an 1890s logging camp. The
Interpretive Center provides an excellent introduction to the camp, with actual
file footage of historical logging operations, authentic artifacts and logging
tools. You can tour the bunkhouse, cook shanty, wanigan, foreman’s office,
blacksmith shop, barn and heavy equipment shed. Kids will enjoy the Tall Tales
room. Tours are available daily 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. from May 1 – October 1.
Adults, $4; Children (4-17), $2.
Anderson Log House
Carson Park, Eau Claire
715-834-7871
Now located on the grounds of the Chippewa Valley Museum, Lars
and Gretha Anderson built this two-story log home about 15 miles
away in Chippewa County, where they raised their ten children.
Built in the late 1850's, the style of construction in this house
reflects its owners' Scandinavian heritage. Open mid-April through
mid-October during museum hours.
Sunnyview One-Room School
Carson Park, Eau Claire
715-834-7871
From 1882-1961, Sunnyview School served children in grades 1-8.
A part of pioneer America's way of life, the school now serves
as the site of hands-on learning for many of the area's fourth-graders.
Located on the grounds of the Chippewa Valley Museum, Sunnyview
School is open to the public from mid-April through mid-October
during museum hours.
Fall Creek Historical Society
E11940 Cty. Rd. J, Fall Creek
715-835-6200
Built in historic Randall Park on Highway 12, the museum houses
many items relating to the history of Fall Creek. A smaller building
features old time kitchen and wash house artifacts. Picnic tables
and shelter are available. By appointment only in winter.
Historic Schlegelmilch House
517 South Farwell St., Eau Claire
715-832-7871
In 1871, a year before Eau Claire formally became a city, Herman
and Augusta Schlegelmilch built one of the community's first brick
homes in hope of surviving the lumber town's many fires. Tour
this beautiful home filled with furnishings from the earliest
decades of its long history. This home is the site of a variety
of workshops and special events, including the annual Teddy Bear
Picnic held in August. Located in downtown Eau Claire on the corner
of Lake and Farwell Streets, the house is open to the public on
Sunday afternoons, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., June - Labor Day.
Dells Mill Historical Landmark and Museum
Cty. Hwy. V, Augusta
715-832-7871
This remarkable, five-story building, built in 1864 is entirely
constructed of hand-hewn timbers fastened with wooden pegs. Except
for the grindstones, the mill machinery, including the millwheel,
gears and pulleys, is also fashioned entirely of wood. The waterpower
generated by Bridge Creek is transferred from waterwheel to milling
machinery over 3000 feet of belting and 175 pulleys. Open 10:00
a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily, May 1 to October 31.
Truax Prairie Home
905 Kane Rd., Eau Claire
715-834-2161 or 715-834-1766
This restored farmhouse, built in 1864 by Peter and Cordelia Truax,
can be toured on Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by special
arrangement, May through September.
James Newman Clark Bird Museum
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
715-836-2637
Tour this remarkable circular museum from the early 1900's. Open
year round, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday
8:00 a.m. - noon.
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Parks & Nature Centers
Beaver Creek
Reserve
Cty. Hwy.
K, Fall Creek
715-877-2212
Thrill at close-up views of the residents of this 360-acre multi-use
wildlife reserve and the skies above. Here visitors will find
diverse woodland and prairie habitats and three different facilities:
the Eau Claire county Youth Camp, the Wise Nature Center and the
Hobbs Observatory. Over five miles of scenic trails give visitors
the chance to view many of the reserve's inhabitants, including
deer, bear, beaver, wild turkey, golden-winged warblers, tufted
titmice, and lady slippers or jack-in-the-pulpits. Self-interpretive
trails, wildlife photography blinds, butterfly gardens, feeding
stations and boardwalks are designed to enhance your up-close
outdoor experience. Trails are groomed for cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing during the winter season, and rentals are available.
While at the reserve, visit the Wise Nature Center. Explore the
center's discovery room with hands-on learning stations, interpretive
displays of local flora and fauna, and live animal exhibits. Nature
programs are offered by interpretive staff throughout the year.
The Louis L. Phillips addition includes a 125-seat auditorium,
classrooms, a resource library, science laboratory and gift shop.
The dark sky over the reserve makes the Hobbs Observatory the
perfect place for spectacular views of celestial bodies. Operated
jointly by the Reserve, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Physics Department and the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society,
the Observatory provides public opportunity to view the nighttime
sky on Saturday evenings throughout the year.
Located four miles north of Highway 12 on County Highway K, the
Beaver Creek Reserve is open year round, Monday - Friday 8:00
a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday noon
to 4:00 p.m.
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Special Things To Do
Hank Aaron
Tours
Carson
Park, Eau Claire
715-836-0091
Home to a bronze statue of "Hammerin' Hank" stands in the plaza outside Carson
Park Stadium, where he dug into a professional batter's box for the first time
in his professional debut with the Eau Claire Bears, a Class C farm team
of the major league Milwaukee Braves. He cracked a run-scoring single in his
first at-bat, and went on to hit .336 for the season and be selected the
Northern League's Rookie of the Year. Carson Carson Park offers 130 acres of
lofty pines and lovely vistas nestled into the crescent of Half Moon Lake, with
trails for hiking and biking, softball diamonds, tennis courts, horseshoe pits,
fishing pier, picnic grounds, you name it. The park even has its own working
miniature steam train, operated by the Chippewa Valley Railroad Association.
Eau Claire Farmers' Markets
Railroad St. Parking Lot - Wednesday & Saturday
7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. June - October
Downtown - Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. June - October
Oakwood Mall - Monday 2:00 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday &
Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 715-878-4322
Enjoy farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and baked goods along
with delicious jams, jellies, preserves, syrups, and more. In
season, gardeners will find a variety of bedding plants, annuals
and perennials. Non-gardeners will find fresh cut flowers and
vegetables. Among the food, fun and flowers, market-goers may
also find unusual art and craft items, music and entertaining
street performers.
L. E. Phillips Planetarium
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
715-836-2637
Tour the universe, including a star show and seasonal lecture
program. Learn what the heavens have in store for you this season.
Call for schedule of events.
Chippewa Valley Auto Tours
Eau Claire Visitor Center
3625 Gateway Dr., Eau Claire
715-831-2345
Experience the Timber Trails of the Chippewa Valley where tall
stands of timber once brought early settlers and riches to the
valley. Canadians and Europeans poured into the region that had
been home to the Ojibway Chippewa Indians since the 1600's. View
the impact of the last great glacier's crushing ice and rushing
meltwater in area prairies and glacial moraines. Travel through
the farmlands, towns and villages where diversified agriculture
and industry sprang up to replace the exhausted timber and wheat-growing
economies at the turn of the 20th century. Tour maps
are available at the Eau Claire Visitor Center.
Chippewa River State Bike Trail
800-344-FUNN
This 23-mile railbed trail offers an easy ride through an awesome
landscape of prairies, woods, craggy rock formations, rivers and
streams. The trail connects to the Red Cedar Trail in the Dunnville
State Wildlife Area. Call for more information.
Chippewa Valley Railroad
Carson Park, Eau Claire
715-831-0900
For a genuine old-time thrill, ride this 1/4 scale working railroad
through the park. The train features coal-fired steam locomotives,
a diesel locomotive, wooden 1880-style passenger coaches, streamline
passenger coaches, a gondola car and caboose. The railroad's must-see
features include the depot, passenger waiting canopy, roundhouse,
turntable, switchyard and the oldest interlocking tower in the
state.
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Points of Interest
The Wood Shed
105 West Lincoln St., Augusta
715-286-5404
In Augusta, eighteen miles southeast of Eau Claire, visitors will
find an Amish settlement of more than 150 families living and
prospering as their 19th century ancestors did 150
years ago. Step into the peaceful past on a guided tour of the
Amish Community and stop at the Woodshed, a unique store where
the Amish display and sell the work of their arts and crafts;
including beautiful woodwork and folk art, quilts, wall hangings,
baskets, rugs, dolls, Amish and Mennonite crafted furniture. Open
year round, Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Greenhouse
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Campus
715-836-2637
Trek through a tropical rain forest or wander across an arid plain
and wonder at the profusion of botanical species growing in the
University's greenhouse. Open year round Monday - Friday, 9:00
a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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