In the fall of 1840, Thomas Mackie and his son-in-law discovered rich soil and abundant timber on land along a stream south of Fox Lake. They soon settled there with their families and named the fledgling town after the industrious animal at work just steps away from their log cabins. This collection of vintage images highlights Beaver Dam's history from 1841 to 1941, as Beaver Dam evolved along the stream, drawing industrialists who built their mills on its banks and tourists who traveled aboard the Rambler excursion steam ship on the man-made lake. With a successful dairy industry and renowned iron works, Beaver Dam prospered and grew into a city united by work, faith, education, and play.

Trempealeau County is in the western part of Wisconsin, on the Mississippi River. It is bounded on the east by Jackson County, on the north by Eau Claire County, on the west by Buffalo County, as well as by Winona County across the Mississippi River in Minnesota. The area belongs entirely to the Mississippi system, and is separated into three distinct divisions, the Trempealeau Prairie Region, the Trempealeau Valley Region and the Beef River Region. The county was created Jan. 24, 1854.