Wisconsin repealed its Prohibition laws four years before the rest of the nation. La Follette, Robert - A very important figure in Wisconsin politics. Wisconsin is a midwestern U.S. state that borders two Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. He died in 1984 at the age of seventy-seven. The Bucks are owned by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.). All Rights Reserved. See the complete list of the 50 states and their borders here. The electric guitar you see today is popular, thanks to Les Paul, a Wisconsinite. They controlled Wisconsin until 1783 during the Treaty of Paris. Gein, Ed - Wisconsin's most bizarre killer. [9], Famed for her dairy production, Wisconsin is the no.1 exporter of cranberries, sweet corn, ginseng, and second-largest exporter of whey in the United States. Ice Age Trail - A trail following the glacial remnants of the last ice age. The Brewers appeared in the World Series in 1982, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. At the highest point of Capitol building is a statue that honors the Greek goddess. The lake was created by glaciation. Senator from Wisconsin, first elected in 1946 and served until his death in 1957. Motto - The motto for the state of Wisconsin is "Forward.". He was thinking of a winter activity that kids could play. It later became an integral part of the American public school system. With time, the word turned into Ouisconsin, Wiskonsan before it finally took the current spelling and pronunciation forms. Milwaukee Brewers - The Brewers were formed in 1970 when an organization, led by Allan 'Bud' Selig, purchased the Seattle Pilots franchise, moving it to Milwaukee and changing its name. She is believed to be the first white buffalo calf born since 1933.[31]. [29], In 1882 the first hydroelectric plant in the world was built at Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. Died in 1959. (Abraham Lincoln was the leader of the New Salem (Ill.) militia, called out in response to Black Hawk's movements. His best-known writing is the "Sand County Almanac," published in 1949, a year after his death. Ran in the 1924 presidential election as a third-party candidate. The stadium, located between Regent Street, Breese Terrace, University and Randall avenues, can seat over 76,000 fans. He did not see any action and was mustered out in July, returning to New Salem in time for the August elections). Houdini, Harry - The escape artist and magician was a resident of Appleton after his family emigrated from Hungary. Wisconsin glaciation extended from approximately 85,000 to 10,000 years ago. Camp Randall - Home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team. Muir, John - Immigrated to Wisconsin as a boy with his family from Scotland, settling near Montello (two hours north of Madison) in 1849. The control tower becomes the world's busiest during the AirVenture. A single bee will produce only about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. The state has 2 national parks and 42 state parks. 3 Eighteenth … The tower rises 112 feet over the waters. He took a liberal stand on most issues but was widely known for his fiscal conservatism, attacking wasteful government spending through his Golden Fleece award. The bomb, aimed at the Army Mathematics Research Center in Sterling Hall, killed one researcher. Dodge, Henry - The first governor of the Wisconsin Territory (1836). Keep watching and subscribe, as more states will follow! Congressional Districts - Wisconsin has eight congressional districts. Wisconsin was the 30th state admitted to the union. This state is occupied by millions of residents. According to Wisconsin stories, Wisconsin contains more ghosts per square mile than any other … His wife, Belle, was noted for various progressive causes. Proxmire, William - Was elected to fill the vacancy left by Joseph McCarthy's death in 1957 and remained in the Senate until 1989. Kevin Burkett/Flickr Lottery - Wisconsin voters passed a referendum allowing pari-mutuel betting and lotteries in 1987, with the first Wisconsin lottery being played in 1989. [3], The Wisconsin River is said to be the name behind the state’s name. The University of Wisconsin is known as the Badgers and Wisconsin is often called the Badger State. [30], 21. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which is the largest meeting of aviators in the world, has, since 1970, been held right here every summer. Proxmire's fiscal conservatisim extended to his own campaigns, where he would routinely spend less than $1,000 on each election, refusing special interest money. The idea of the party was conceived during a meeting held at the Little White Schoolhouse on March 20, 1854. Early French explorers referred to the islands as the "Twelve Apostles" even though there are more than 20 islands in the group. Many battles took place in Wisconsin during the Black Hawk war, including the Battle of Wisconsin Heights and the Battle of Bad Axe in 1832. Door County - A county located on the peninsula in northeast Wisconsin bordered by Lake Michigan and Green Bay (the body of water, not the city). Today Milwaukee Public Museum has a replica of this which you can watch at any time. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Miners would dig holes in the hillsides to retrieve surface ore or for shelter, bringing the comparison to badgers digging in the ground, hence the nickname "Badger State.". The 16 senators representing even-numberd districts are elected in the years in which a presidential election occurs. Wisconsin is the dairy capital of the United States and is sometimes called "America's Dairyland." She taught school in Milwaukee before settling in Israel. Moved to Milwaukee from the Ukraine as a child in 1906. The museum opened in 1959 on the site that served as the winter quarters for the Ringling Brothers Circus. Green Lake - The lake, located in Green Lake County approximately one and a half hours northeast of Madison, is the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin, with a depth of 237 feet. The fire, one of the worst natural disasters in history, destroyed the town of Peshtigo and several other villages. 1 This evidence is found in a speech made by a chief of the Illinois Indians who explained that his enemies, the Fox Indians, had massacred four Frenchmen and “a negro." Meir, Golda - The prime minister of Israel from 1969 to 1974. It became the official state song in 1959. His family started the Kohl's retail businesses. The members are called representatives and are elected to two-year terms. 1. A controversial figure during the 1950s, the Republican senator accused government officials and others (entertainers, journalists, professors) of being Communists or Communist sympathizers. It was after this that rope jumping gained world fame. The 17 members who represent odd-numbered districts are elected in the years in which a gubernatorial election is held. Founded in the mid-19th century by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, Sinsinawa (which means home of the young eagle) is the home base from which the Dominican Sisters minister. 6. (The Kohl family sold their retail business in 1978 to BATUS, which in turn sold the food store chain to A&P in 1983, keeping the department store chain). The Packers have won 12 league titles, including three Super Bowls. As of 2010, the population recorded was 5, 686, 986 and the locals are called Wisconsinites. The famous Fox Trot Trail takes you through the riverfront and downtown of Appleton. It was constructed in 1880. Wisconsin repealed its laws enforcing Prohibition in 1929, four years before the nation as a whole.. 7. Marquette was also a Jesuit missionary working among the Huron and Ottawa Indians in northern Wisconsin. The State even holds an international festival every September where people get a chance to look at the process more closely and sample drinks and foods that contain the product. That was the birth of the first ice cream sundae, and it cost just a nickel. [27], Effigy mounds are a common sight in Wisconsin. Carol Ryrie Brink, author The book, Caddie Woodlawn, won the 1935 Newbery Award for children's literature. State Fair - Wisconsin's state fair is held in early August at State Fair Park in West Allis, a suburb west of Milwaukee. The largest city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee. In This likely refers to the sandstone formations found in the river. 90 and 94 are east-west highways, though they appear north-south as they pass Madison. Summerfest - An 11-day music festival on Milwaukee's lakefront. Best known for his work with Senator John McCain in the campaign finace reform legislation. Leopold, Aldo - A faculty member of the University of Wisconsin from 1933 until 1948, Leopold was a leading conservationist and naturalist. The UW-Madison Wisconsin Badgers is marked to celebrate the game day. Approximately 900,000 people attend the 11-day event. They were established by the state, provincial, or territorial authorities. Thompson, Tommy - Wisconsin's 42nd governor, serving from January 1987 until February 2001, the longest term in office of any Wisconsin governor. This was a native of Wisconsin and one of its most ever prominent citizens. [5], The largest experimental aviation event in the world is the EAA Fly-In at Oshkosh. They used to like Waukesha County a lot, specifically Oconomowoc. The Harley-Davidson Museum is a North American museum near downtown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin celebrating the more than 100-year history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles The 12,000-square-meter (130,000-square-foot) three-building complex on 8 hectares (20 acres) along the Menomonee River bank contains more than 450 Harley-Davidson motorcycles and hundreds of … Major Rivers: Wisconsin River, Mississippi River Lakes - Lake Michigan, Lake Superior. Progressive - A movement that began in the late 1890s, led by Robert La Follette, that ushered in important social, political and economic reforms in the state, including worker's compensation, teachers pensions, direct primary elections, the first successful state income tax in the nation, the establishment of locally based vocational education and the conservation of forests. Although the ban has since been lifted, there are still some restrictions that remain on margarine. Wisconsin, constituent state of the U.S. Studied for a time in Madison at the University of Wisconsin. Nicolet, Jean - French explorer, believed to have been the first white person to arrive in Wisconsin in 1634. Villa Louis - A two-story Italianate mansion built on the banks of the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien in 1870 by the son of Wisconsin's first millionaire, Hercules L. Dousman. He asked to try the sauce on top used for ice cream sodas. Wisconsin is the 20th most populous and the 23rd most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. The Ringling Brothers gave their first circus performance in Baraboo in 1884. It has more dairy cows than any other state (1,500,000), produces more milk than any other state -- and 15% of the entire country's milk. Known as the Marathon County, Wisconsin produces the entire ginseng grown in the United States, which accounts for roughly 10% of the world’s supply. See also Taliesin. The Wind Point Lighthouse in Racine is the tallest tower still standing on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes. O'Keeffe, Georgia - Artist born in Sun Prairie in 1887. Chicken keepers are always searching for new and fun facts about chickens. Senator, La Follette is synonomous with the term "progressive." The first football game was held on the property in 1895. This made the event to be recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest music festival in the world. It is in Price County in northern Wisconsin. The hills, reaching a height of 800 feet, are a remnant of an ancient quartzite mountain range. He was found guilty of two murders in the Plainfield area in 1957 but also admitted to robbing graves, taking heads and body parts home where he made masks and lamp shades from the human skin. Wisconsin Fun Facts The state of Wisconsin was named after the Wisconsin River. 2. The current state capitol went through an eleven-year renovation ending in 2001 at a cost of $140 million. Their name was to soon become synonymous with the word circus. Paul, Les - Born Lester Polfus in Waukesha, he is credited as being the inventor of the solid-body electric guitar and the multi-track tape recording. This is none other than the Noah’s Ark Water Park. Prehistoric human migration was greatly influenced through this last glacial period. At the time, serving soda on Sunday was illegal for religious reasons. The springs started gaining popularity in the 19th Century. Parks - Wisconsin has 48 state parks, 4 state recreation areas, 8 state forests and dozens of state trails. Top events during his tenure include welfare reform, school choice, casino gambling, revenue caps for school districts and economic growth. Its four bordering states are Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. Each senate district includes three assembly districts. Today, it is still illegal for restaurants to serve their customers margarine in place of butter unless the customer requests for it. The site was surveyed in 1837 and given the name Aztalan with the belief the cultural remains might be those of the Aztecs. University of Wisconsin-Madison - Founded in 1848 with the first classes being held on Feb. 5, 1849, the UW-Madison today ranks as one of the prominent public universities in the country. It’s also a land of forests and farms, and the state is perhaps best known for its dairy farming. [17], Wisconsin is America’s undisputed Dairy land. EVER. Also was a accomplished musician. Lead mining - Several lead discoveries were made in the 1820's in southeastern Wisconsin, leading to the settling of many communities, including Mineral Point, Shullsburg, Hazel Green, Benton and Platteville. In their 6-8 week lifespan, a worker bee will fly the equivalent distance of 1 ½ times the circumference of the Earth. [24], On August 20, 1994, a white buffalo calf called Miracle was born on a farm in Janesville, Wisconsin. [18], William Harley and the Davidson brothers (Walter and Arthur) build their first motorcycle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Waukesha is renowned for natural springs and has plenty of resorts for tourists. It used to be partially housed in a structure designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957 as a war memorial. Green Bay is Wisconsin’s oldest city. The state’s capital is Madison. Dahmer was killed by another prisoner in 1994. Cigrand campaigned to have June 14 a national remembrance day. The church, built on top of the hill, can be seen for miles. Famous Wisconsinites. Today, cranberries are Wisconsin's leading fruit crop in terms of acreage (over 15,000 acres) and value (in excess of $64 million). [14], 25. Ringling Brothers - The brothers, Al, Otto, Alf, Charles and John, gave their first circus show performance in Baraboo in 1884. The outstretched arm of the figure symbolizes the Forward motto. Apostle Islands - An archipelago in Lake Superior off the northern coast of Wisconsin. Why is it that Wisconsin has enjoyed excellent crops, a dairy industry, beautiful forests, and almost a lake per person? Bascom Hall - The building at the top of Bascom Hill in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Thanks to its fertile farmland, Wisconsin’s agriculture industry generated $88.3 billion in economic … His original name was Erik Weisz. Wisconsin hosted the nation's first automobile race when the state offered $10,000 to the inventor of a machine that could move from Green Bay to Madison under its own power. It is the third capitol building in Madison, and the fourth overall (Wisconsin's first capitol building was in Belmont). University of Wisconsin Extension - The University Extension was established in the early 20th century to assure that campus resources would be available to people throughout Wisconsin. Timms Hill - The highest point in Wisconsin with an elevation of 1,952 feet. Paul’s exploits and contributions in guitar playing were to earn him a nickname of Wizard of Waukesha. Horicon Marsh - Located one hour northeast of Madison, it is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the country. [16], It was in Ripon, Wisconsin that the Republican Party was founded. The EAA is the sponsor of the annual fly-in AirVenture in July. He wanted a dish of ice cream. Entry is free for all. Barneveld - A small village in Iowa County about 25 miles west of Madison. [7], The Wisconsin Dells boasts the most number of water parks in a single area in the whole world. Prairie du Chien - Wisconsin's second oldest settlement (1781), it is located on the Mississippi River two hours west of Madison. American Players Theater - A theater company located in Spring Green, 40 miles northwest of Madison. He also described it as the ``close cooperation between the campus and the government to solve problems.'' Baraboo Range - (Baraboo Bluffs or Baraboo Hills) The range, located in Sauk County, is twenty-five miles in length and up to five miles in width. A center for the paper industry and the home of the Packers. Gein was declared insane and spent the rest of his life in state hospitals. Three of the four involved in the bombing were eventually arrested (Karleton Armstrong, Dwight Armstrong and David Fine). America's Dairyland - A nickname for the state, Wisconsin was the long-time leader in the country in milk production. The homes, built of limestone and timber, are located on Shake Rag Street, named from when the Cornish wives would wave a dishclothe from their doorways to signal the men in the nearby mines that it was dinnertime. Sinsinawa Mound - The home to approximately 800 Sinsinawa Dominican sisters in the rural southwest corner of Wisconsin near Hazel Green. The natural beauty of the Dells is also evident in the cliffs and sandstone rock formations along the Wisconsin River. The site of Blue Mounds State Park and the location of the first permanent European settler, Ebenezer Brigham, in Dane County. Cranberries - Cranberries are a native fruit to Wisconsin, though commercial production of the crop in Wisconsin did not begin until the 1860s. Senate - The upper house of the Legislature, the Senate is comprised of 33 members, each elected to four-year terms. It is the no.1 producer of cheese in the US, and ranks second in terms of the best milk producers. Built in 1911, the home is part of a 600-acre estate. Schlitz, the “beer that made Milwaukee famous,” is now owned by the Los Angeles-based Pabst Brewing Company, which also produces Old Milwaukee. The main reason for forming the party was to fight slavery. It operates 24 hours a day, from mid-April until December. Rather, it refers to the lead miners of the 1820s who traveled for work and even dug tunnels to find somewhere to sleep and stay warm—in the same way as a badger. Wisconsin (/ w ɪ ˈ s k ɒ n s ɪ n / ()) is a state in the upper Midwestern United States, bordered by Minnesota to the west; Iowa to the southwest; Illinois to the south; Lake Michigan to the east; Michigan to the northeast; and Lake Superior to the north. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. The word Wisconsin originates from the Miami Indian word Meskonsing, meaning "this stream meanders through something red," a reference to the setting of the Wisconsin River as it flows through the red sandstone bluffs of the Wisconsin Dells. It sits atop Deer Shelter Rock, which is a rock column approximately 18x21x61(meters). Oldest and Highest Lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The other interstate highway in Wisconsin is 43 between Beloit and Green Bay, via Milwaukee. He was well-known for his integrity and fairness. Therefore, a standard on how we type today was created by a Wisconsinite. Jacques Marquette, a French explorer, first recorded the name in 1673. It continues to be the nation's leader in cheese production. Founded in 1979, APT offers primarily Shakespeare, but includes works ranging from the Greeks to British comedies. Chosen for the early lead miners in southwest Wisconsin who would dig in the side of a hill and live underground, much like a badger. Opened in 1859, the building was first known as the main edifice and then University Hall. He also wrote Antiquities of Wisconsin in 1855, a book which focused on the state's Indian mounds. Wisconsin River - Wisconsin's largest interior waterway. Immigrant groups - The largest ethnic group to settle in Wisconsin in the 19th century was the Germans, followed by Yankees (American settlers of British decent), Norwegians, Polish, Irish, Welsh and Swiss. The badger state The state symbol of Wisconsin, the badger, does not refer to the animal as most people think. Elected as a congressman, governor and U.S. [1], The state symbol of Wisconsin, the badger, does not refer to the animal as most people think. Wisconsin boasts the largest dairy cattle per square kilometer than any other state. Lapham, Increase - He is called Wisconsin's first scholar and ecologist and published the first geological survey of the state in 1844. 90% of milk originating from Wisconsin is used for making cheese. The tradition of the Wisconsin Idea has resulted in the application of University of Wisconsin innovations in a host of fields, ranging from agriculture to government. The site includes other buildings that house an assortment of oddities. A monk from Quebec was miraculously cured on this spot in the mid-1800s. Uncover random facts about Wisconsin Dells to get a picture of why this family-friendly destination has been attracting visitors for more than 150 years. Cheese - Wisconsin is the country's top cheese producing state, accounting for 24.4 percent of U.S. cheese production (2.19 billion pounds) in the year 2000. Milwaukee hosts the largest music festival in the world, The Summerfest, held in Milwaukee, attracts some 1 million visitors every year. When you plan to visit this state, you have to know more interesting facts about Wisconsin. Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau, Menominee, Oneida, Potawatomi, Red Cliff, St. Croix, Sokaogon and Stockbridge-Munsee. 100 Basic Things You Should Know About Wisconsin Compiled by Ron Larson Abrahamson, Shirley – The chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, she was sworn-in as Wisconsin’s first woman Supreme Court justice in 1976. Explorer Zebulon Pike led a group of people up the Mississippi River to the location now called La Crosse. Subsequently, Bloomer got the name of the world’s Rope Jumping Capital. Linguists suspect the original name could have been taken from a Miami word “meskonsing” which loosely translates to “this river meanders through something red” or “it lies red. Much of the community was destroyed on June 8, 1984, when a tornado struck in the early morning hours, killing nine people. Some were said to have medicinal properties. His legacy continues to live on especially with contemporary interpretations of Gibson Les Paul. Statehood - May 29, 1848. The lake is the center of a state park, Devils Lake State Park, that is a favorite for cliff climbers, hikers and campers. Water parks, resorts, the Ho-chunk casino and boat rides draw more than three million people each year to the Dells. It’s actually Green Bay. He designed it in a way that kids from grade I to middle school would contend to see who managed to jump a rope most in 10 seconds. It is considered an architectural … There are over 10 water parks, both indoor and outdoor with millions of water gallons when combined. Right from the start, the 2 lower floors were designated for art gallery use. In this video you can find seven little known facts about Wisconsin. It is 10 miles at its widest. Green Bay - Wisconsin's oldest community with the first farm being cleared and planted in 1745. [8], Oshkosh, a small town found on Lake Winnebago to the Northwest of Milwaukee, is prominent for two things: the first is its popular line of children’s clothing, and secondly, the integral place it occupies on the world’s air show circuit. It also manages an aviation museum. China, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Russia are the five largest producers of hydropower. Virginia and Massachusetts originally claimed Wisconsin before becoming an independent state. Although Native Americans built them throughout the country, it’s in Wisconsin that they are most common. Lake Winnebago - This is Wisconsin's largest lake with an area of over 137,000 acres or 215 square miles. The museum sees more than 400,000 visitors a year.[10]. The first major wave of European settlers to Wisconsin consisted mostly of lead miners and prospectors. It also has a history of gangsters. Wisconsin Idea - First articulated in 1912 by Charles R. McCarthy, the founder of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Wisconsin Idea holds that ``the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state.'' [2], Wisconsin prohibited the sale and use of margarine starting from 1895 to 1967. It was a fur trading center until the 1830s. Madison also hosted some of the early state fairs on the land where Camp Randall Stadium is now located. All of these come here to get a glimpse of the thrilling aerobatic displays and flybys from contemporary and vintage military aircraft. Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, is the troll capital of the world. The river flows almost the entire length of the state, beginning at Lac Vieux Desert near the Michigan border and emptying in the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. He died in 2005. In 1856 when the couple moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, she started a kindergarten class in their abode. Horicon Marsh is a state wildlife area and national wildlife refuge. investor Mark Attanasio in 2004. 7 of the top 10 drunkest U.S. cities are located in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin plays host to 12 of … Its capital city is Madison. Mead, which is made from fermented honey, is the world’s oldest fermented beverage. Earth Day - Celebrated on April 22, Earth Day was created by then-Wisconsin U.S. recent years, Wisconsin was surpassed by California in the number of dairy cows, milk production and butter production. The state lost one seat as a result of the 2000 census figures. The fourth, Leo Burt, has never been found. Flag Day - The first observance of Flag Day in the U.S. took place in Wisconsin in 1885, at Waubeka in Ozaukee County by Bernard J. Cigrand, a teacher at Stony Hill School.