The true origin of Eau Claire in Wisconsin is lost to the ravages of time. Local lore says that 18th-century French explorers and trappers had been navigating upriver on Chippewa River, which was notoriously silty and muddy. After weeks of enduring poor drinking water and filthy clothes, they finally happened upon a new river and shouted, “Voici l’eau claire!” which means “here is the clear water!” And thus, this new river got its name, Eau Claire River. A few decades later, a small settlement formed on the banks of the river, and it also was named Eau Claire. Not long after, a nearby lake unsurprisingly was assigned the same name, and thus, Lake Eau Claire was born.