Wisconsin 101

OBJECT HISTORY: National Guard Nightstick

In mid-May 1933, battles, clashes, and strikes erupted throughout Wisconsin. The catalyst? Milk. On the orders of Governor Albert G. Schmedeman and Adjunct General Ralph M. Immell, an army of 600 National Guardsmen, 800 special deputies, and local law enforcement marched into…

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June 27, 2023

Industry / Military History / Maritime Industry / Broad History / Manitowoc / Related Stories / Manitowoc County / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Politics & Government / Region 5 - Center East / Transportation & Tourism / Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

Manitowoc’s Maritime Identity

The city of Manitowoc has been deeply shaped by its maritime industry. Located directly on the shores of Lake Michigan, Manitowoc’s identity is intimately tied to the Great Lakes. Manitowoc utilized the access to Lake Michigan to build an economy fueled by…

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May 29, 2023

Industry / Maritime Industry / Manitowoc / Object Histories / Manitowoc County / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Politics & Government / 1900-1918 / Region 5 - Center East / Transportation & Tourism / Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

OBJECT HISTORY: Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

Many of us can easily picture a lighthouse in our minds. You may think of a tall structure that’s right along a lake or ocean, illuminating the water and land it protects. Whatever comes to mind, lighthouses have an everlasting cultural presence…

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May 29, 2023

Maritime Industry / Related Stories / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / 1877-1900 / Politics & Government / Transportation & Tourism / Wind Point Lighthouse

Orlando Metcalf Poe and Wisconsin’s Waterways

Orlando Metcalf Poe was an engineer who shaped the landscape of Wisconsin’s harbors and waterways, playing a crucial role in the development of Wisconsin’s commerce. Through his lighthouse designs and his design of major systems of ship locks and canals on the…

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May 10, 2023

Industry / Maritime Industry / Racine / Object Histories / Racine County / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / 1877-1900 / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East / Wind Point Lighthouse

OBJECT HISTORY: Wind Point Lighthouse

Wind Point Lighthouse is located in the Village of Wind Point, which sits just north of the Racine harbor on Lake Michigan. The lighthouse was constructed in 1880 and stands 108 feet high. In 1870 the U.S. Lighthouse Board, a federal agency…

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May 10, 2023

Industry / Dairy Industry / New Glarus / Food & Cooking / Related Stories / Green County / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / Region 7 - South Center / Swiss Cheese Kettle

Early Cheese Factories in New Glarus

Green County has long been known for its cheese factories, particularly ones making Swiss cheese. However, when the first Swiss immigrants arrived it wasn’t at all clear that they would go into cheesemaking at all. New Glarus’s rise to prominence as a…

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April 17, 2023