Lake Pepin Wisconsin Area   Alma      In 1848, two young Swiss men arrived in this area to cut the wood which would be used to fuel the steamboats which traveled the Mississippi River. They built a small shack and decided to stay. Others soon followed these early settlers. Until 1857, the newcomers were mostly Swiss immigrants. Perhaps the geographical features of this area reminded them of their native Switzerland.      Twelve Mile Bluff was the original name (assigned by pilots of steamboats as they used a prominent cliff as a guide on dark nights) for the settlement.   Bay City            Travelers find Bay City to be a quiet respite for eagle watching, picnicking, lake shore hiking, fishing, country dining and antique shopping.         Bay City has a colorful past as a vibrant center of river and rail commerce. The train station, huge wharf and dance halls are now gone and the village easily can be passed by as one follows the Great River Road.   Buffalo City           Buffalo City, chartered in 1859, is the oldest incorporated city in Buffalo County and was once perhaps the smallest city in the United States.      The name Buffalo City may have been chosen because of three brothers who raised buffalo on a bluff overlooking the city.   Durand            The city of Durand, on the banks of the Chippewa River, was first settled in 1856 when 21 year old Miles Durand Prindle came up the river in his keel boat called the "Dutch Lady" and took government land on the site of the present city. Durand became an incorporated City on April 12, 1887.   Fountain City      Wisconsin's most picturesque River Town... nestled in in the bluffs along the Mississippi River, Fountain City is the oldest settlement in Buffalo County. Rich in natural and historical beauty, this small river-town community is proud of its miles of memories and unique attraction. The panoramic view of Fountain City is highlighted by Eagle Bluff, which stands 550 feet above the river, the highest point on the Mississippi. Maiden Rock      Many years ago the Native Americans gathered wild turnips and onions along the shore of the Mississippi at the wide area we now call Lake Pepin. The great curve on the northwest bank was specially favored for its shallow protected waters. Later came white men for furs. They, too, found the sheltered cove by the Rush River a fine place to camp.      The Indian legend of the bluff called Maiden Rock, which has some basis in historical fact, concerns a young Dakota Indian woman, Winona, who Leaped to her death from the tip of the most prominent bluff in the region rather than marry the brave her father, Chief Red Wing, had chosen for her. Nelson      This huge section of backwater adjoining the Mississippi has thousands of acres of woods where deer abound. Walking trails and canoeing are available.      Nelson is located at the junction of Highways 25 and 35 and connects Wisconsin to Minnesota by the interstate bridge over the Mississippi River.      Next to the village is an area that is 3 miles wide and 10 miles long - of virgin forest and water, practically untouched by civilization. This area, known as the Tiffany Bottoms, is a sportsman's paradise.    Pepin       Pepin and Lake Pepin take their name from the Pepin brothers, two of the first French trappers in the area. The village was settled in 1846, and was initially known as a steamboat boomtown familiar to Mark Twain and wealthy Chicago socialites who summered on the lake.         The combination of charm, beauty and location has made the village of a Lake Pepin gateway for cultural activities, sightseeing, shopping, boating and fishing, hunting, swimming, biking and hiking...or simply relaxing and absorbing the area's timeless beauty and serenity. Prescott      The city of Prescott is located where the St. Croix River meets the Mississippi River. Settled in 1840, this area was described as the "mouth of the St. Croix".      William Cullen Bryant once praised the beauty of the area and declared: "This area ought to be visited by every poet and painter in the land." If you stand in Mercord Mill Park and view the muddy water of the Mississippi River joined by the blue waters of the St. Croix River, you will begin to understand this statement. Stockholm      Located along the most spectacular views on Lake Pepin, the quaint village has just the right blend of shops, eateries, historic appeal and natural beauty. Follow Lake Pepin on Highway 35, the Great River Road, Wisconsin's only National Scenic Byway.      It was in 1851 when Eric Peterson stepped ashore, climbed the bluff and saw the beautiful panorama of Lake Pepin spread out before him. Five years later the area was surveyed, a plat laid out and the Swedish settlers called it Stockholm. As in most small cities along the river, early industries included fishing & clamming.      After many years of decline, Stockholm has seen a renaissance spearheaded by artists, architects and professional craftspeople.           Check out "A Cottage in Stockholm" for an elegant getaway nestled into the lushly wooded Mississippi River Bluffs, overlooking Lake Pepin and surrounded by art galleries, craft & antique shops, fine dining, hiking trails and scenic gardens.