"Treasures of La Crosse" Collectible Medallions
PAL introduced the first collectible gold plated medallion in its “Treasures of the Past” series in 1991. The series was intended to depict old familiar landmarks and nostalgic reminders of La Crosse’s rich history. In 2010, we changed the name of our series to “Treasures of La Crosse” to better represent the ongoing nature of our annual selections.
Click to print an order form or to check availability of previous years' ornaments.
* * * We have set aside a very limited number of complete sets of medallions from 1991 to the present, which include medallions that are no longer available to be purchased individually. (Click the link for more info.)
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PAL's 2011 Collectible is available now!
Grandad Bluff
At the eastern edge of the city, on the top of Grandad Bluff, you will find a shelter, built in 1935, and a United States
flag, which flies daily over the city. From this vantage, you can view the busy city of La Crosse, WI, all the way across
the Mississippi River and numerous islands, to the Minnesota Bluffs. In the late 1800's, Mr. Henry Bliss is credited
with saving the bluff. He owned the north half of the bluff and created a park-like environment which he maintained
by himself for many years and which was continued by his heirs long after his death in 1896. During that time, a large
portion of the southern aspect of the bluff was quarried by stone companies.
When the rumor surfaced that the bluff property would be sold to a larger quarry business, citizens became concerned and started to raise money to obtain ownership of the bluff to be saved as a city park. Joseph and Irene Hixon obtained the deed to the land about 1905 and quarrying ceased. They held the property until money could be raised to purchase it as a park for the city in 1909. There were many contributors, but Mrs. Ellen Hixon was one of the largest donors to raise more than the necessary $15,000. With the remaining funds and contributions from other Hixon family members and citizens, they purchased the surrounding lands below the bluff and created Hixon Forest.
The Grandad Bluff design is by La Crosse area artist, Kay Wimberley.
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PAL's 2010 Collectible Medallion
The Freight House - 107 Vine Street
Our latest ornament celebrates the era when La Crosse was a "gateway city" and railroad traffic expanded across the
Mississippi River to Minnesota and the Northwest. This popular landmark from 1880 was built as offices and freight
depot for the Milwaukee Road freight trains. The two-story cream brick building features a gabled roof, arched window
hoods over tall windows and a large cupola above the north extension. It was one of the largest freight depots in the
state and remains one of a few remaining. The ornament also depicts a Milwaukee Road freight train and a conductor-mascot,
affectionately called "Otis."
Freight services were discontinued in 1955. It was eventually opened as the Freight House Restaurant in 1978. In 1992 an extensive fire destroyed most of the interior, but the owners contracted for a detailed reconstruction to its former ambiance. It is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, is listed as a Local Landmark by the La Crosse Heritage Preservation Commission, and received recognition with PAL's Heritage Award in 1979 for adaptive reuse of an historic building.
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Buy them for yourself
Call them "ornaments" at Christmastime and hang them on the tree -- (that gold really sparkles!) These beautiful "Treasures of La Crosse" need not be packed away for a year when the holidays are over, though. Frame one or several (or all of them) and display them on a wall where they can be seen and enjoyed all year long. Put your imagination and creativity to work. You'll find the perfect way and place to display them in your own home. The gold plating (on brass) doesn't tarnish.
Buy them for your family and friends
PAL's La Crosse "Treasures of La Crosse" medallions make great...
- gifts for birthdays
- gifts for the holidays
- graduation gifts
- housewarming gifts
- thank you gifts and hostess gifts
- "just because" gifts
- reminders of home for your La Crosse friends and family who have been transplanted elsewhere
- cultural exchange gifts to send to friends in faraway places. (Take a couple of PAL's commemorative La Crosse medallions with you when you travel, too, to give to new friends you may meet along the way... a keepsake that will remind them of their new friend from La Crosse, Wisconsin.)
Each medallion comes packaged in an attractive gift box, and includes historic information about the landmark.
How can you get them?
There's an order form for "Treasures of La Crosse" right here on PAL's web site. See which of the medallions are still available (click here) and then go here to print the order form. Every medallion you purchase helps to support the preservation efforts of PAL, and we thank you for that!
119 King Street - La Crosse, WI 54601 - (608)784-1976