City leaders looking ahead to museum for La Crosse

La Crosse’s history and culture have been a topic of debate recently, over how the area’s people are represented through art.

Now, the city is looking at starting a museum to celebrate how the region has developed.

In front of the old fire department wagon displayed now in the city hall lobby, Mayor Tim Kabat announced a plan to appoint a task force soon to design such a museum last week. The task force idea may be approved by the city council next month.

La Crosse has historic sites, such as the Hixon House, but there are no specific museums representing the region’s history and cultures. The historical society is working with the city to help establish a museum.

Kabat said that since there are current projects to expand the La Crosse Center and improve Riverside Park, now would be a good time to establish a museum, as well.

City planner Jason Gilman said such a museum could offer a unique view of how La Crosse has grown. La Crosse used to have a museum devoted to local history, inside the public library on Main St.

No specific locations have been chosen yet for a museum site.

Historical society director Peggy Derrick was advised by city leaders to be open minded about a location.

“Don’t get stuck on one site yet, we need to do the preliminary planning,” she said.

Derrick’s preference would be to have a museum near the marsh or the river. There’s also talk of building it near the site of the sunken War Eagle riverboat.