U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) participated in the groundbreaking of the Great River Road Interpretive Center at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery this week, where he spoke about the economic, cultural and environmental importance of the Upper Mississippi River Region.

“It was an honor to be a part of the groundbreaking for the new Great River Road Interpretive Center, and to be joined by many great leaders who are dedicated to protecting and honoring the Mississippi River as both a precious natural resource and an economic engine,” said  Kind. “Residents and visitors alike will benefit from the wealth of historical, cultural and ecological information that will be housed in what will be a great new facility here in Genoa.”

The purpose of the new building will be to focus on the intrinsic value of the Upper Mississippi River Region. The Sauk and Fox tribes of Oklahoma and Iowa will help develop an interpretation one of the last battles of the Black Hawk War, and Dairyland Power will be constructing an exhibit describing their peregrine falcon restoration efforts.

Features that are already available at the location include an accessible fishing dock, donated by Dairyland Power, for children and adults who have limited access to the outdoors or a debilitating illness, as well as an outdoor classroom and wetlands boardwalk used by local schools in their outdoor education classes.

The building project in Genoa was partially funded by a grant received through the Scenic Byways Program.

The Great River Road is nearly 3,000 miles long and runs through 10 states and the Mississippi River. A current network of 70 museums and historic sites in all 10 river states showcase and connect the historic sites of the Mississippi River, including six in Wisconsin.