Wisconsin 101

The Saratoga of the West: Resort Culture in the Waukesha Springs Era

Bethesda Spring Park, ca. 1900. The springhouse stands on the right. The spring runs into the pond, which reflects the words “1868-Bethesda.” The Terrace Hotel can be seen in the left background. People sit on the lawn and stand around the springhouse.…

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February 20, 2023

Food & Cooking / Waukesha / Related Stories / Everyday Life / Manufacturing & Trade / Waukesha County / 1877-1900 / Nature & Environment / 1900-1918 / Science & Medicine / Region 8 - South East / Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle

Nature’s Purest Drink: The Henk Mineral Spring Company

As a center of the mineral spring water industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Waukesha, Wisconsin, saw the rise of over 200 spring water companies during the period known as the Waukesha Springs Era. With over fifty mineral springs…

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February 19, 2023

Waukesha / Food & Cooking / Object Histories / Everyday Life / 1877-1900 / Waukesha County / Nature & Environment / Science & Medicine / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East / Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle

OBJECT HISTORY: Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle

Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle. Courtesy of Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Collection ID: 2009.011.181. Once a small prairie town, Waukesha, Wisconsin became known as Spring City during the late 19th century with the discovery and promotion of healing springs throughout…

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February 19, 2023

Industry / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Transportation & Tourism / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Region 8 - South East

Beyond the Dirt Track: Harley-Davidson Expands to New Markets

“Typical Bikemen of the 1920’s,” Courtesy of the Milwaukee Police Historical Society. Harley-Davidson motorcycles may have had their first exposure on the dirt-track racing circuits of the early 1900s, but their legacy did not end with extreme sports. 1908 marked the Milwaukee…

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June 18, 2022

Sports & Games / Industry / Broad History / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East

Harley Davidson and Milwaukee

It’s no secret that Harley-Davidson’s history is deeply rooted in Milwaukee. From dealerships to museums, the motorcycle giant serves as a cultural landmark and has become synonymous with the sprawling city. Thus, one may be surprised to learn of its humble beginnings.…

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June 18, 2022

Read more about the article OBJECT HISTORY: The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine

“1909 Harley-Davidson V-twin motor." Courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Archives.

Wisconsin Made / Industry / Milwaukee / Object Histories / Milwaukee County / Manufacturing & Trade / 1900-1918 / Transportation & Tourism / The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine / Region 8 - South East

OBJECT HISTORY: The Harley-Davidson V-Twin Engine

When Edward Pennington unveiled the first prototype for what he deemed the “motorcycle” in 1895, inspiration struck the minds of two Milwaukee natives, William Harley and Arthur Davidson. Joined by Arthur’s brother, Walter, the three began tinkering with two-wheelers and eventually designed…

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June 18, 2022