THE CHARLES A. GRIGNON MANSION

In the days before Wisconsin's statehood, the Fox River was an important water highway for travelers and fur traders.  At a natural portage point along the Fox, where the Grignon Mansion now stands, a trading post was established as early as 1760.  Charles A. Grignon, whose family had been active in the fur trade for over 100 years, took over this post in 1830.

In 1837, Charles A. Grignon built this elegant mansion as a wedding gift for his Pennsylvania bride, Mary Elizabeth Meade.  An oasis of luxury and civilization on the Wisconsin frontier, this stately home was known as "The Mansion in the Woods" to countless travelers.