Join Ellen's Circle

Ellen’s Circle:  Reimagining History for Today’s Community

By joining Ellen’s Circle through the 100 Extraordinary Women campaign this spring, you are helping to create a safer, more accessible, and more broadly interpreted Hixon House site. Your support is a meaningful way to celebrate someone special while contributing to the revitalization of a community resource. Ellen’s Circle was founded in the spirit of Ellen Hixon, an important local philanthropist and the matriarch of the Hixon family. Her dedication to the educational and social wellbeing of late 19th-century La Crosse was critical in nurturing a healthy and vibrant community for all.

The upcoming project at Hixon House includes:

  • Completion of the house’s interior restoration

  • Rehabilitation of the Visitors Center to make it ADA-compliant, update its mechanical systems, and improve its facilities

  • Expanded and modern exhibits in the Visitors Center, including digital resources, which allow for broader and more inclusive storytelling

  • Safer and more accessible pathways around the site

Honor an Extraordinary Woman

  • Your $1,000 donation can be made through the 100 Extraordinary Women website, https://100extraordinarywomen.com/hixon-house/

  • Each $1,000 gift can be in the form of a one-time donation; an annual donation of $200 for 5 years; or a monthly donation of $18 for 5 years.

  • Gifts can be made “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” someone special, whether it’s a mother, mentor, teacher, friend, or even yourself. Please note your honoree’s name in the “Order Notes” section at check-out online (for example, In Honor of Mary Smith), or let us know if you prefer to remain anonymous. All honoree names will be displayed on beautifully-etched plaques in the Visitors Center. Be part of a new generation of philanthropists in La Crosse!

Why This Matters

Hixon House’s uncompromising integrity, high-quality restoration, and association with a family who were central to the early development of the La Crosse make it a true local treasure. It is a gem of a historic home that is being enhanced by broader, more relevant and engaging exhibits as well as expanded accessibility.

Questions?   Contact Margaret Lichter, (608) 782-1980 or margaret@lchshistory.org.