Community Art, Non-profits, and more

The landscape of the Wabasha area is part of a large area in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and southwest Wisconsin which is sometimes referred to as the “Driftless Area,” (not being covered by any of the “drift” material left behind by glaciers in much of the Midwest) or Paleozoic Plateau” because bedrock here is Paleozoic in age and has been cut into by erosion.

The dramatic topography of the Paleozoic Plateau, which in Wabasha runs from about 700 feet above sea level in the city to 1200 feet just west and south, these rock formations have provided the resources of sand, rock road, rip-rap, and building stone for the community. Wabasha as a community traces its history to the 1830’s when Augustin Rocque established a fur trade post. The community grew up around his post and the city was platted in 1854 and incorporated in 1858. Beginning with the first European explorations of the upper Mississippi in the 17th century, many visitors have extolled the attractions of this area. (source – 1995 Historic Context Study)

Wabasha Main Street (WMS) is a grass root organization of volunteers focusing on revitalizing our traditional downtown commercial district. WMS follows the Four Point Approach set forth by the National Main Street Program, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Four Points include:

The WMS works closely with the City of Wabasha, the Wabasha Heritage Preservation Commission, the W-K Chamber of Commerce, and the State Health Improvement Program.

• Three Rivers Community Action
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4086 Burkhardt-Roemer
• American Legion with Auxiliary
• The Common Closet Thrift Store
• Wabasha Area Food Share (Food Shelf)
• Wabasha Rotary
• Wabasha Area Community Resource Center (WACRC)
• Wabasha County Library
• Wabasha County
• Historic Preservation Committee
• History Museum
• Wabasha Lions
• Wabasha/Kellogg Area Community Foundation
• WATCH, Wabasha Area Team for Community Housing
• Star of Hope
• Gunderson Hospital Auxiliary
• Herold our Local Newspaper

• Wabasha Arts
• Driftless Books
• River Junction Arts Council
• Iron Bridge Art and Clay
• SVJ Creative Designs