[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE OPENING OF THE GREAT RIVER ROAD INTERPRETIVE CENTER AT 
                    THE GENOA NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2018

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to commemorate the 
opening of the Great River Road Interpretive Center at the Genoa 
National Fish Hatchery. This Interpretive Center is along the Great 
River Road in Wisconsin and is one of our nation's most historic and 
extensive scenic byways. It is also part of the National Scenic Byways 
Program.
  Today the Great River Road offers travelers not just a leisurely 
scenic drive but a unique and lasting journey through diverse 
communities and landscapes. At the Great River Road Interpretative 
Center in Genoa, visitors will have a chance to see Mississippi River 
fish species, birds native to the region and a history of the area's 
pearl button industry.
  From its shores in Genoa, the new Interpretive Center provides a 
panoramic view of the majesty and magnitude of the Mississippi River. 
Standing outside its entrance doors, one recognizes the River's size, 
scale, and multiple uses. From outdoor recreation to commercial 
navigation, to serving as a primary corridor for North American 
waterfowl, the Mississippi River plays an essential role in the lives 
of the people of this region and nation. However, in addition to its 
recreational, navigation and wildlife use, the area and its landscape 
also tell an important part of our nation's history. It was here, near 
the new Interpretive Center that a significant battle ofthe Black Hawk 
War was fought. The new center features a description of this event 
with an exhibit dedicated to the Battle at Bad Axe. As a result, 
residents and tourist alike will better understand the story and 
history of the area and the role that the Mississippi River played in 
the region's development.
  The Great River Road Interpretive Center is dedicated to protecting 
and honoring the Mississippi River as both a precious natural resource 
and an economic engine. Residents and visitors alike will benefit from 
the wealth of historical, cultural and ecological information that will 
be featured in this new facility here in Genoa.
  The Great River Road Interpretive Center will serve as a gateway to 
the rich heritage of the Mississippi River for future generations.

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