Wisconsin 101

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

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

Racine / 2000-2020 / 2020-2040 / Region 8 - South East / New Object Histories / Wind Point Lighthouse / Racine County / Manufacturing & Trade / 1880-1900 / Science & Medicine / Object Histories / 1900-1920 / Nature & Environment / 1920-1940 / 1940-1960 / 1960-1980 / 1980-2000 / Transportation & Tourism

OBJECT HISTORY: Wind Point Lighthouse

Photo of Wind Point Lighthouse. Image courtesy of Cheryl Kaufenberg (June, 2016). 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…

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May 10, 2023

Green County / Region 7 - South Center / New Glarus / Related Stories / Swiss Cheese Kettle / Manufacturing & Trade / Food & Cooking / 1860-1880 / 1880-1900 / 1900-1920 / 1920-1940 / Ethnicity & Identity / Global Connections

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

Green County / Region 7 - South Center / New Glarus / Related Stories / Swiss Cheese Kettle / Politics, Society & Government / 1840-1860 / 1860-1880 / 1880-1900 / 1900-1920 / 1920-1940 / Ethnicity & Identity / Global Connections

Swiss Immigration to New Glarus

For nearly a century, southeastern Wisconsin and especially Green County was a hotbed of Swiss immigration. Even though the immigration slowed dramatically in the early 1900s, the area still preserves a distinctive Swiss character. Visitors can attend the annual Cheese Days festivities…

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April 17, 2023

Region 8 - South East / Related Stories / Henk Mineral Spring Water Bottle / Waukesha / Waukesha County / Manufacturing & Trade / Food & Cooking / Science & Medicine / 1880-1900 / Nature & Environment

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