Wisconsin 101

Read more about the article Early Fishing in Northern Door County: Before the Turn of the 20th Century

This photograph, taken by Harold Hone in the late 1930s, shows the fishing village at Gills Rock. Image from Wisconsin Historical Society (#78114).

Early Fishing in Northern Door County: Before the Turn of the 20th Century

The impact of the fishing industry on Door County cannot be understated, as it held the keys for the original formation of the County and many of its cities and villages. Although commercial fishing has waned, the tradition persists in area as…

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April 10, 2024

Fish Boil Kettle / Door County / Related Stories / 1860-1880 / 1880-1900 / Nature & Environment / 1900-1920 / 1920-1940 / 1940-1960 / Transportation & Tourism / 1960-1980 / Region 5 - Center East / 1980-2000

Tourism in Droves: Door County as a Tourist Destination

In the present day, the Door County tourism industry brings in over $500 million in total economic impact every year, with the summer as peak season. Rising from humble beginnings, and getting some help along the way from innovation, mainly the rise…

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April 10, 2024

Read more about the article Images of the Wisconsin Dells (Waterparks Not Included!)

Cornelius and May posed at Anvil Rock

Wisconsin Dells / Columbia County / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Related Stories / Everyday Life / Nature & Environment / 1880-1900 / 1900-1920 / Region 7 - South Center / Lefeber Glass Plate Negatives

Images of the Wisconsin Dells (Waterparks Not Included!)

More than a century before the Wisconsin Dells became the "Waterpark Capital of the World," it was a famous tourist destination known for its scenic beauty. Guides began taking sightseers in rowboats along the Wisconsin River as early as the 1850s, and…

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February 21, 2024

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

Manitowoc / Object Histories / Manitowoc County / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / 1900-1920 / 1920-1940 / 1940-1960 / Region 5 - Center East / Transportation & Tourism / 1960-1980 / 1980-2000 / 2000-2020 / 2020-2040 / Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

OBJECT HISTORY: Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse

Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society ID:59505. 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.…

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May 29, 2023

Orlando Metcalf Poe and Wisconsin’s Waterways

Photograph of Orlando Metcalf Poe. Image courtesy of the Village of Wind Point Brochure. 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…

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May 10, 2023