The Phillips Ridge is so high that a century ago, horses could not carry dairy products from the…read morecreamery in Mindoro to the rail head in West Salem over the ridge. La Crosse County contracted to dig a cut through the ridge, beginning in 1907. The cut was dug with hand tools and dynamite, rubble was hauled down the ridge by men using wheelbarrows on uneven planks. They were paid $1.25 per day and many walked off the job after one day. When completed in 1908, the cut was 74' deep, 25' wide and 86' long. Guard rails went up in 1920 and it hasn't changed since. (Except for additions by local artisans over the years, professing undying teenage love and various other messages.) It was the second deepest hand-hewn cut in the Western Hemisphere and may be the last one still in use without modern improvements. The winding 7% grade going up the ridge with hidden vistas and hairpin turns coupled with driving through the cut and back down again makes the Mindoro Cut a popular destination for motorcyclists, sports car enthusiasts and old car nuts from around the world.

Don't blink...you'll drive right past it. There is a small area to park, just careful pulling out.read more

Nice facility, good books and tables/seating, wifi too. Too bad about the librarians they hire…read more One in particular lets people she knows play loud music from their phone while they read the paper. When I asked her about said miscreant, she informed me that "he just does that". Like rules don't apply to him because he's a walking fossil. Forget about students trying to study or people trying to concentrate and work, or even PEOPLE TRYING TO READ. IN A LIBRARY. Absolutely ridiculous. Shame on your staff.

Many decades ago I spent countless hours in the stacks of books in the Winona Public Library. It…read morewas a refuge at first and then became an inspiration that's followed me my entire life. I became a writer - first a journalist and then an author. The solace and opportunity I found in this beautiful, historic library taught me the world is wide and possibility abounds. Thanks to all the librarians (who "shhhsh'd me many times) but tolerated a hyperactive girl with dreams. Darby (Pat) Patterson, Sacramento

Since, I have returned back to my hometown of St. Charles, MN, I have visited the city's public…read morelibrary a couple of times recently. Looking back, I can recall going there as a young child, to include spending time with my two best friends from junior high screwing around and trying not laugh to loud. First off, I was amazed at the renovation that was strewn upon the original building, especially the expansion. The new addition definitely makes a lasting impression on any onlookers. In addition, they have also included a conference room, which anyone can reserve. The place is clean, well organized, and in immaculate condition. There are gender specific restrooms that are very clean. There are also public computers to utilize. One can print there, but it costs 15 cents, per sheet of paper. There's a children's section, with tables for them to read. Parking is ample and there is also handicapped parking too. One must have a library card in order to access the amenities there. This library does have summer & fall/winter hours. I'm very happy to see my hometown put a valid investment into this library, and more importantly, into the people of St. Charles.

My second Mississippi lock and dam, the first was Number 22 down near Hannibal Missouri in May. The…read moreUpper Mississippi doesn't flow quite as easily as the Lower Mississippi which necessitated the construction of 29 lock and dam structures - a "stairway of water" that allows boats and barges to travel from Saint Louis to Saint Paul, a 420 foot drop in elevation from Minneapolis to Granite City. La Crescent is the furthest downstream of the locks in Minnesota with the next being in Winona. The next one downstream is in Alma. Number 7 was constructed in the mid-1930s and went into operation in April 1936. The embankment is 8100 feet long from the dam to French Island where there is a concrete spillway. It's not completely easy to see too much of it from ground level but from the I-90 river bridge, there's plenty to see. Interesting and unfortunately, there wasn't a ship transiting the lock when I visited. Maybe next time! [Review 20712 overall - 124 in Minnesota - 1693 of 2023.]

The facility is about 700 river miles up from the confluence with the Ohio. It was put in operation…read morein April of 1937 with a significant rehabilitation by the United States Army Corps of Engineers near the turn of the century. The concrete structure is 1050 feet long containing a 100 foot by 600 foot-long lock, five roller gates, and 11 tainter gates. An additional 10,000 feet of earthen dammage plus 1500 feet of concrete spillways complete the span to either side of French Island and the impounded water feeds Lake Onalaska above the dam. Because of its proximity to Interstate 90 in Minnesota Lock and Dam 7 is a pretty touristy spot on the Mississippi River. A large lot is accessed from the nearby rest are/visitor's center. Covered bleachers are available for any who wish to watch the river traffic or area wildlife; restrooms are open in season.

Anyone who tackles this trail must be…read more.. A) A historic bridge enthusiast and fan of engineering design B) The second coming of Aldo Leopold C) Someone off their nut D) A&C E) B&C F) All of the above. Okay, seriously, this is a a fascinating area and quite a trail for nature lovers. Alexander McGilvray saw an opportunity in 1854 and launched a ferry across the Black River. In 1892, the county built a steel bridge across the river, ending the ferry service. Since McGilvray Road went through backwaters of the Black River and a slough, six wooden bridges were built. The moist environment wrecked wooden bridges quickly, so between 1905 and 1908, a series of five bowstring truss bridges were built with one wooden bridge left behind. The road was closed in 1948 due to flooding, and in 1954 the steel bridge was removed. The five bowstring truss bridges remain in place and a fifth pony truss bridge was relocated here to replace the wooden bridge. The maintenance of the old bridges is accomplished with volunteer labor, the Friends of McGilvray Road in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR. Bowstring trusses, one time plentiful, are now rare and only eight examples remain in Wisconsin - five of those eight are on McGilvray Road. As for the hiking, well, nature has pretty much consumed McGilvray Road, popularly known as Seven Bridges Road. It is a hiking trail, being slowly developed by the Friends of McGilvray Road. You can take the 1.8 mile hike to the Black River and experience a piece of La Crosse County history yourself. Dress appropriately and wear good hiking shoes.The day I visited McGilvray Road, I met a couple on the trail. He was wearing sandals. Not smart. She was wearing cross trainers, still not very smart. Both were wearing shorts - really not smart as the mosquitoes were matched in size and maneuverability to a P-38. No motorized vehicles, in fact, no vehicles at all, including no bicycles. As a hiking trail, two stars. As a great example of private and public sector cooperation, four stars, as an example of historic preservation, five stars. Net result - four stars. I'd go back - would you like to join me?

Nice trail, but unfortunately flooded due to the rain so could only see 0.2 miles of it.read more