Wisconsin 101

OBJECT HISTORY: Ojibwe Presentation Pipe

This Ojibwe presentation pipe consists of two pieces: a pipe bowl and a pipe stem. It was most likely for spiritual ceremonies. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the pipe bowl is carved from heavy stone, and has two common images to…

Comments Off

November 17, 2020

Madeline Island / Indigenous Wisconsin / Related Stories / Bayfield County / 1787-1848 / Ethnicity & Identity / Region 1 - North West / Politics & Government / Ojibwe Presentation Pipe

Ke-che-waish-ke

Ke-che-waish-ke (Great Renewer) (c.1759 – 1855), also known as Chief Buffalo (Peezhickee), and by the French Le Boeuf, led the Lake Superior Ojibwe people of Mooningwanekaaning (Madeline Island). Ke-che-waish-ke was instrumental to signing treaty agreements between the Wisconsin Ojibwe people and the United States,…

Comments Off

November 17, 2020

Ino / Object Histories / Ethnicity & Identity / Bayfield County / Curators' Favorites / Global Connections / 1900-1918 / Region 1 - North West / Society & Religion

OBJECT HISTORY: Slovak Catholic Altar

During the 19th and early 20th century, immigrants from all across Europe began coming to Wisconsin. Some had heard of economic opportunity from industries like mining, logging, or farming. Some were being treated unfairly in their home countries because of their race or religion.…

Comments Off

April 6, 2020

Soo Engine 1003 / Maritime Industry / Related Stories / Lumber Industry / Mining Industry / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / Region 1 - North West / 1918-1945 / Transportation & Tourism

The Soo Line

In the second half of the nineteenth century, railroads remade the geography of the Midwest. In an era when roads were often muddy filled with holes, the railroad made it faster to travel from Superior to Milwaukee by rail than from Superior…

Comments Off

April 15, 2019

Soo Engine 1003 / Object Histories / Industry / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Region 1 - North West / Transportation & Tourism

OBJECT HISTORY: Soo Line Engine #1003

In the second half of the nineteenth century, railroads remade the geography of the Midwest. In an era when roads were often muddy filled with holes, the railroad made it faster to travel from Superior to Milwaukee by rail than from Superior to Ashland by wagon. In Wisconsin, the Chicago and Northwestern, The Milwaukee Road,…

Comments Off

April 15, 2019

Medford / Industry / Lumber Industry / Related Stories / 1877-1900 / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / Nature & Environment / Bark Spud / Taylor County

Tanning in Taylor County

Tanning in Taylor County In early 1890, members of a wealthy Boston-based family, the Shaws, visited Wisconsin to find new sources for the tannic acid needed to produced leather for horse harnesses and boots. The Shaw Family operated tanneries in Maine, Massachusetts,…

Comments Off

April 1, 2019