If you like digging up the stories of old cities, then this walking tour of downtown Eau Claire is for you!

The city’s story starts as a small but important logging town, which later grew into a cultural powerhouse. In its early years, Eau Claire’s timber industry was huge, and the town had more sawmills than anywhere in the nation. This tour transports you back in time to those early years when Eau Claire’s first settlers were putting down roots and the town was developing alongside its lumber industry.

Along the way, you’ll hear about other interesting aspects of Eau Claire’s past, including:

• Its steamboat era
• The city’s electric trolleys
• World-famous violinist, Ole Bull’s connection to the city
• Early and as-yet unfamiliar traffic lights
• The oldest brick house in the city
• The flood of 1884

After covering Eau Claire’s early years, you’ll trace the city’s development through to the 1930s when it was the cultural and entertainment hub of Wisconsin. Not only will you learn all about Eau Claire’s fascinating history on this tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy some discounts on food, drinks and shopping from some of the great vendors we’ve partnered with. Check out eauclairetours.com for more information about this and other tours before you join us in bringing the past to life.

Photo Credit:
The black and white photos are courtesy of the Chippewa Valley Museum

Hello, I am Roger Gostomski, founder of Eau Claire Tours. I have lived in Eau Claire for over 30 years and even graduated from the local college. I started these tours because over the last 10 years Eau Claire has turned itself into one of the top 10 mid-sized cities in the nation, with the accolades to prove it. We have a beautiful downtown park on the north end of the confluence of the two rivers that flow through Eau Clarie. To top it off, just a few years ago, we added the gorgeous Pablo Center performing arts venue on the south side of the confluence of the same rivers. There are some great pictures of both on our website at eauclairetours.com.

This revitalization was the impetus for me to start these tours. Though they were the reason I started the tours, I have found that I am more fascinated with Eau Claire's early history. It is this early history that I will be covering in what will be our Signature Tour, The Downtown Eau Claire Historical Walking Tour, and will be one of five tours when I am done.

I have put a tremendous amount of research into the tours over the last two years, (it was during Covid, so I had a lot of "free" time) and I belive that it will show when you take one of them.

Well, that's enough about me; now its time to get outside and enjoy a walk in our beautiful city while learning about our fasicinating past.

Thank you,

Roger Gostomski
Eau Claire Tours