The River Road and Highway 87 between St. Croix Falls and Grantsburg, Wisconsin are the oldest roads in the region. The River Road was first used to bypass the lengthy rapids that have since been inundated by the St. Croix Falls dam. The roadsides are ripe with historic buildings and locations, natural beauty, and interesting cultural experiences.

All of this will be on display during a self-guided tour of the roads this Saturday, September 26. There are 27 designated stops along the route, the event uniquely connects the past of the area with the present. It showcases local history, and how many traditions continue to this day.

“The Southern tour starts, for history buffs, at the restored Cushing Land Agency—the Baker Building on Main Street in St Croix Falls. The St. Croix Falls Historical Society has a huge collection of pictures of from the old days on the river,” the tour guide (PDF) begins.

The tour is largely the brainchild of local historian Russ Hanson, who has written for the local newspaper as the River Road Rambler, and who continues to write an excellent blog about life on his old family farm in the area at River Road Ramblings. It is sponsored by the Sterling, Eureka,  and Laketown Historical Society.

Details

• Most sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26th.
• Being self-guided, ramblers are welcome to start at any point and shorten the route if they wish.
• Maps and more information are available at the River Road Ramble website or at the Polk County Information Center in St. Croix Falls.
• River Road Ramble website
• List of stops
• Map of route