Modern Highway Photos: La Crosse to Winona

Route markers on the north side of La Moille.

Looking north at a wayside rest just north of La Moille. According to construction plans a small rest area was originally constructed here in 1938, with a stone retaining wall and a spring outlet. The structures were apparently destroyed when the highway was upgraded to four lanes in 1958.

Interpretive signage for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge at the roadside rest area just north of La Moille, looking southeast across the Mississippi towards Wisconsin. The refuge was created on June 7, 1924 by President Coolidge. It was the brainchild of Will Dilg, a founder of the Izaac Walton League. Land for the refuge was purchased by the federal government throughout the 1920's at the same time that the Department of Highways was constructing the first modern highway used by U.S. 61 through the Mississippi River valley. (Source: Anfinson, John O. "The River We Have Wrought - A History of the Upper Mississippi", University of Minnesota Press, 2003).

More scenery on the highway between La Moille and Homer. This stretch of road is on its fourth generation. The previous two-lane concrete road completed in 1929 was preceded by a 8-foot wide concrete road, completed in 1913/1914, which itself was preceded by at least one earlier primitive road.

At the junction with County Road 9, just north of Cedar Creek.

Approaching the entrance to the Pla-Mor Campground, a former KOA (note the blue sign on the right). The two roads visible on the left are Woodland Hills Drive and Little Smokies Lane.

Route markers at the town of Homer. U.S. 61 once traveled directly down Homer's main street. When the highway was upgraded to four lanes in 1958, Homer was bypassed, and a series of crib walls were constructed to keep the town from sliding onto the new highway. The old two lane road between Homer and Winona still exists, now marked as parts of County Roads 15, 17, and State Highway 43 (for more info, see the lost highway article here).

Looking north towards Winona on the north side of Homer. Note the sign for the Bunnell House historic site.

The view of the modern highway, looking north from the parking lot of the Bunnell House. A set of plans from 1961 show that a roadside parking area was to be constructed in the empty field in the foreground. The plans never came to fruition.

Another view to the north from the parking lot.

Now that I've mentioned the Bunnell House several times, I might as well include a photo of it. U.S. 61's old alignment between Homer and Winona (County Road 15) is visible on the right, showing how much more accessible the house once was to travelers on U.S. 61.