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On September 2, 1875, The State Normal School at River Falls was formally dedicated. Part of the National Normal School Movement that began in the 1830s, in response to growing concern over the shortcomings of American common schools, specifically schools to teach teachers.

Citizens of the Village of River Falls, along with surrounding townships, began to express interest in having a Normal School in the area. In January 1870, some 1,000 voters signed a petition requesting the state legislature “to pass an enabling act allowing River Falls and surrounding communities a tax of $20,000 to contribute to the establishment of the next State Normal School to be located in River Falls. (King, James T., and Wyman, Walker D. Centennial History: The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 1874-1974. River Falls, Wis.: U of Wisconsin-River Falls, 1975)