Yesterday in La Crosse
The origins of La Crosse’s sister cities, including children’s lanterns down the Mississippi, making it to Russia
For more than 40 years, La Crosse has developed sister-city partnerships with communities in several foreign countries.
Visitors to north side of Riverside Park can see symbols of those partnerships by touring the International Gardens, featuring landmarks representing communities around the world.
The first official sister-city bond involving La Crosse traces back to the 1980s, resulting from a Trane Company office in Epinal, France.
Later in the 80s, children in the La Crosse area began to float peace lanterns on the Mississippi River.
Some of the lanterns reached Russia, where U.S.-born David Bell was living.
Bell and La Crosse dermatologist James Baumgaertner started working together on peace projects. La Crosse attorney Chuck Hanson was also involved.
That led to a sister-city partnership between La Crosse and Dubna, and several exchange visits between the two cities.
The relationship with Dubna, Russia became more solidified in November of 1989, when musicians known as the Dubna Trio performed at Viterbo and met with La Crosse residents.
The visit by the Russian delegation came around the same time that the Berlin Wall opened up and the Cold War was coming to an end.
La Crosse has gained more sister cities over the years. Here they all are:
The partnerships led to the international garden areas near where the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse Rivers meet.
Visitors flying into the La Crosse airport can also see the friendship flags on display above the escalators and stairs that take them to the baggage area.
The Russian flag is not on display, however, due to its war with Ukraine. The La Crosse city council voted in 2022 to have it taken down.
