River Town Explorer is an independent regional publication based in Fountain City, Wisconsin. Through historic photographs, postcards, research, and present-day exploration, it shares the stories, scenery, and outdoor experiences of the Upper Mississippi River and Driftless Area.
Fountain City is home, but these stories reach beyond one town. We also explore neighboring communities along the Great River Road, sharing their history, scenery, and places worth discovering. Together, our river towns offer plenty of reasons to take a drive, make a few stops, and get to know the region.
The Driftless Area’s winding valleys, river scenery, and towering bluffs give us plenty to explore. We’re interested in both the landscape we see today and the lives of the people who came before us.
Historic postcards, old photographs, newspapers, and other records help tell those stories. Alongside the history, you’ll find present-day photographs, time on the river, fishing, scenic drives, and places worth stopping.
Some stories begin with a question. Others begin with a photograph or something we notice while exploring. When research is involved, we include sources so you can follow the trail yourself.
We hope you find something here that makes you curious enough to look a little closer, whether you live nearby or come to explore for yourself.