Wisconsin 101 is partnering with the Wade House to highlight the favorite objects of elementary students who visit. Find out more about our favorite things and explore ways to use them in the classroom.
See if you can spot all of these objects during your visit!
OBJECT HISTORY: Plank Roads
Before the 1850s, Wisconsin did not have roads, at least not ones you would recognize. As more people moved to Wisconsin, settlers cut thick prairies and forests into roads, but these were just dirt paths that were often quite muddy. As a solution, Wisconsinites decided to build plank roads which had a lot of advantages over the dirt ones.
OBJECT HISTORY: Silsby’s Steam Powered Pumper
In the late 1800s, the Silsby Company created the Steam Powered Pumper in New York. This technological advancement made the lives of firefighters everywhere easier. They no longer had to rely on bucket brigades to fight fires. This impacted communities all over the country, including in Berlin, Wisconsin.
OBJECT HISTORY: A Ballot Box
When was the last time you voted? Today? Yesterday? Maybe last week? Voting can be simple and a good way to let people know what you want. You may have voted, for example, on where …
OBJECT HISTORY: The Muley Sawmill
If you grew up in Wisconsin, you may be familiar with some of Wisconsin’s forests like the Black River forest, Menominee forest, or the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest. For hundreds of years these forests have provided Wisconsin …
Explore Wisconsin 101: Our History in Objects
Learn about objects in Wisconsin's history
The objects and stories featured on Wisconsin 101 cut across the diverse regional, cultural, economic, and political differences of our state, providing a rich sense of our shared heritage.
Explore stories by subject
What unexpected histories can you discover behind ordinary objects in your day-to-day life?
Write your own story
Everyone is invited to participate in building this interactive, public resource for exploring Wisconsin’s history and geography. Please share your story!
