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Villa Louis Historic Site Announces Season Opening on May 21

The 2025 season highlights an extended schedule and a new archaeologist-led program that explores the layers of history beneath the storied Upper Mississippi River mansion

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. - Villa Louis, a National Historic Landmark located in the heart of the Driftless Region, is opening its gilded-age doors for the season on May 21. The opulent mansion, once the estate of Hercules Dousman, will offer an extended season with historic home tours available through Nov. 2. Guests will be immersed in a bygone era where Victorian customs and turn-of-the-century style reigned.

The Italianate-style mansion was built by Louis Dousman in 1871 and is a classic example of a 19^th century Victorian home with Arts & Craft influences. In addition to the stately home, the sprawling property on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River features more than a dozen buildings and holds stories and evidence of humankind across eras.

This year, Villa Louis will offer a captivating new program that explores the rich layers of history beneath the site’s 26-acre grounds. Led by Wisconsin State Archaeologist Amy Rosebrough, the program will be offered on May 10 (pre-season) and Sept. 6. This special, free presentation and tour will cover 14,000 years of history held within the soil, from Indigenous settlements and historic treaty grounds to British-American battlefields and French fur trade warehouses.

In addition, the popular Historic Prairie du Chien Riverfront Walking Tour is back along with a guided “behind-the-scenes” tour of the Dousman family home.

“Villa Louis and the land it occupies have a rich history, and we are delighted to offer tours that delve into the Victorian era when the Dousman’s resided in the home as well as the earlier eras that are integral to Villa's long and layered history," said Susan Caya-Slusser, Villa Louis site director.

Villa Louis will open its doors for the 2025 season on May 21 through Nov. 2, Wednesdays through Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tour times occur each day at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. A self-guided grounds pass is also available. General admission tickets cost $15 for adults (18-64) and teens (13-17), $13.50 for seniors (65+), $8 for children (5-12) and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission and 10% off special experiences.

Members are encouraged to pick up a Pastport for the 2025 season to start earning stamps towards special prizes for every Wisconsin Historical Society site visited!

Upcoming Events at Villa Louis:

Behind the Scenes Tour – June 21 & 27, July 19, Sept. 20 & 26, Oct. 11 & 17; Tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m.

Journey behind the scenes at the Dousman family estate. See how the family’s objects were cared for, visit restored sections of the historic manor and tour the attic and basement, usually excluded from public visits. This event explores the second floor, basement and attic, which are only accessible via stairs. Tours are recommended for ages 13+. This tour is $30 per person with advance registration required.

What's Under the Villa Louis – May 10, Sept. 6, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.  

Dive into the underground world of Villa Louis with Wisconsin State Archaeologist Amy Rosebrough. This special program will detail 14,000 years of ‘hidden’ history that can be found on the Villa Louis grounds. Learn about battles, French colonies, ancient campsites and more during this intriguing hour. The tour starts in the Brisbois Fur Warehouse on the Villa Louis estate and will include a brief grounds tour. This free event, happening May 10 as part of National Historic Preservation Month, will also take place on Sept. 6.

Historic Prairie du Chien Riverfront Walking Tour – Sept. 12 & Oct. 10, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Discover Wisconsin’s rich history on a walking tour of the Villa Louis grounds. Learn about the ancestral Ho-Chunk Nation land that the Prairie du Chien estate was founded on, see homes of fur traders Michel Brisbois and Joseph Rolette and visit the site of Wisconsin’s only War of 1812 battlefield. These highlights, along with intriguing stories surrounding Wisconsin’s second established city, will make for a fascinating 90 minutes of history. This event is $25 per person and free for children under five.

Breakfast in a Victorian Kitchen – Sept. 27 & Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Craft a family-style breakfast in the Villa’s historic kitchen. Working on a wood stove and utilizing utensils of another era, guests will prepare favorite dishes of the day and then enjoy the fruits of their labor. A tour of the mansion is also included in this special experience. This event is $85 per person and advanced registration is required. Guests must be 13+ to attend.

Villa Louis Christmas Tea – Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Experience the splendor and grandeur of a traditional Victorian estate while participating in an afternoon of tea and history at Villa Louis. Take a tour of the historic mansion, beautifully decorated for the holidays, and then head over to the 1851 Brisbois Stone Warehouse to enjoy a classic afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches, scones, pastries and a hot cup of tea.  The event is $60 per person, advance registration is required, and guests must be 13+ to attend. The self-guided tour of the Villa Louis residence is included in the purchase of a ticket to the Christmas Tea.

See upcoming events here.

About Villa Louis

Villa Louis is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. A National Historic Landmark located in Prairie du Chien, the historic Villa Louis mansion is the centerpiece of a grand Victorian estate built by the family of Hercules Dousman, a frontier entrepreneur who amassed a fortune in the fur trade and other frontier investments. The mansion received a top-to-bottom restoration that has returned the home to the splendor of its 1890s heyday, using British Arts and Crafts interior designs inspired by famed designer William Morris. Visit villalouis.org or call (608) 326-2721 for more information and a list of upcoming events. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.