La Crosse and its Region
La Crosse and its Region

e·col·o·gy (ĭ-kŏl'ə-jē)

n., pl. -gies.

  

1. a.  The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments.  Also called bionomics.

    b.  The relationship between organisms and their environment.

2.  The branch of sociology that is concerned with studying the relationships between human groups and their physical and social environments.  Also called human ecology.

3.  The study of the detrimental effects of modern civilization on the environment, with a view toward prevention or reversal through conservation.  Also called human ecology.  
Oneota Cave Art
Grandfathers Bluff
Myrick Park 1911

Pre - 1842

A Bison in Oneota Cave Art from La Crosse County

1890 - 1960

Nolan, John.  The Making of a Park System in La Crosse: Report.  1911.  Inland Printing Co. La Crosse, WI.  26

1842 - 1890

Grandfather’s Bluff La Crosse Illustrated, part 4, p.8

Murphy Library

  
© 2008 Myrick Hixon EcoPark C: :  Web Hosting provided by The Idea Center

   

The ecological history of La Crosse, Wisconsin has been shaped by the intersection of several factors.  First, La Crosse is located in the heart of the driftless region, a region with a distinctive, rugged topography formed some 12,00-13,000 years ago when the last of the great ice age glaciers bypassed this area.  Second, La Crosse is located on an alluvial plain formed by the intersection of the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers.  Third, the river valleys and blufflands were home to many sophisticated native people who humanized the landscape long before the arrival of Europeans.  An finally, and very recently, European settlers were drawn to this region with their minds set upon exploiting water, woodland, and prairie.

This web exhibit, produced by UW-La Crosse History students, highlights the outlines of this story.  In truth, the exhibit is a beginning.  The full story is far more complex.  That is our challenge to those who view all or part of the exhibit:  fill in the gaps.

 Joshua Wachuta, Jesse Chariton, Amy Fricke, Kelly Nussbaum, J.P. Krause, Whitney Shaffer, Ashley VonRuden, Kirsten Stapleton, Hannah Larkin, Dylan Rude, Chelsey Wood, Amanda Sebald, Abbie Burczyk, Bill Tourville, Blake Hartman, Candi Bentley, Collin Byxbe, Amos Washington III, Jack Thill, and Amanda Langrehr.