The settlement at Prairie du Chien started on Saint Feriole Island, and island in the Mississippi River. Due to repeated flooding, the city migrated towards the mainland, and the island is most parkland and historic site today.

There is a long history of bridges at this location, once a main street crossing the city. As a result, is a little more ornamental that what might otherwise be expected. In fact, this bridge carried the main US-18 crossing for many years, from when it was built in 1955 to when the new bridges were built in 1975.