100th Anniversary Celebration

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (refuge) is celebrating our 100th anniversary! Please join us for a FREE open house-style special event with presentations and activities for people of all ages!

Activities at the La Crosse District Visitor Center:
N5727 County Road Z, Onalaska, WI 54650
10am – 2pm: Come meet our conservation partners! Take a walk on a short, paved trail loop to learn more about conservation partnerships on the refuge as you interact with partner booths hosting activities for kids or adults. Look for visits from our mascot, Puddles the Blue Goose! Stop-in the Visitor Center to enjoy arts and crafts and vote on your favorite photo in an exhibition of the 100th Anniversary Photo Contest winners. Grab a River Rat Relay challenge card at the front desk to earn a free patch after visiting five locations on the refuge!

Live animal programs (seating is first-come, first-served):
River Valley Raptors: 10:05 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m. in the large outdoor tent
Coulee Region Humane Society: 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. inside the visitor center multipurpose room

12:00 p.m. Birthday Celebration Ceremony and Visitor Center Dedication as a Great River Road Interpretive Center, followed by birthday cake! Keynote remarks will be delivered by honored speakers who will share their connection to this special place.

1:00 p.m. Audubon Upper Mississippi River history presentation inside the visitor center multipurpose room

Activities at the Fred Funk Boat Landing:
W8023 County Rd ZB, Onalaska, WI 54650
*Barge boat tours: 9:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
*Advance registration is required for boat tours and seating is limited. Registration will open Monday, June 10th. Life jackets are required and will be provided. Please visit the Refuge website for more information about registering. https://www.fws.gov/event/100th-anniversary-celebration-la-crosse-district

Electroshock fishing demonstrations by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m.

Many thanks to our event sponsors, Audubon Upper Mississippi River, the Friends of the Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8 and the Mississippi River Parkway Commission!

We’d also like to thank our event partners: Brice Prairie Conservation Association, Brice Prairie First Responders, Coulee Region Humane Society, Ducks Unlimited, Genoa National Fish Hatchery, Izaak Walton League, Midwest Fisheries Center, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, River Valley Raptors, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – St. Paul District, U.S. Geological Survey – Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Program and the many Friends and Refuge volunteers who have helped lead event activities!
The partnerships we build together are a big piece of the rich history of this refuge and a critical piece of our next 100 years to come.