History

When the German tradition of decorated Christmas Trees made its way to America in the 1800s, the trees were lit with candles.

The electric guitar has shaped the history of music in more ways than we could hope to fit in 100 words.

As kindergartners head back to school (or back online), parents in America have Wisconsin to thank.

The storied relationship of Wisconsin and cheese began as a quick fix for dairy farmer’s excess milk.

Wait … you mean to tell me there isn’t an overwhelming population of badger animals in the state of Wisconsin?

The toilet paper craze of 2020 led many Americans to buy greater amounts of toilet paper than ever before.

On June 10, 1919, Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. The victory came as a surprise after countless setbacks faced by Wisconsin suffragettes.

Despite facing freezing temperatures much of the year, Wisconsinites consume 21 million gallons of ice cream annually: by some measures, the most in America. Where did the tasty treat originate?

The House on the Rock is a bizarre cliffside mansion/tourist attraction featuring architecturally distinct rooms of cars, weapons, the world’s largest indoor carousel and other curious objects.

In 1857, an American named Joseph Gayetty invented the first purpose-made toilet paper, but most Americans continued to use pages from the Sears Catalog or Farmer’s Almanac (the latter was even printed with a hole for hanging in an outhouse).

Wisconsin’s favorite foam triangle and corresponding nickname didn’t originate here, or even in America.

At 2:30AM the morning of February 27, 1904, a gas leak sparked a raging fire in our state capitol building.

America’s dairyland is globally renowned for its rich cheese-making history and commitment to culinary artisanal excellence. From developing originals to perfecting traditional recipes, Wisconsin’s cheese legacy is time-honored and unending.

Wisconsin is a state of morning people. Not the peppy kind, but the hard-working, passionate variety that wake up each day on a mission. The industries that call the state home use mornings to get a head start on the day, connect with people they serve and prepare to succeed.

What’s not to love about Halloween? From the costumes to the candy, to haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin carving and hay rides, there is something for everyone. This coveted holiday is anticipated by both the old and the young at heart, and Wisconsin does it right, whether you prefer a day of family fun on the farm or a night of heart-pounding fear.

One of Wisconsin’s biggest tourism areas around the Porte des Morts strait is better known by another name: Death’s Door. Exact lore varies, but the treacherous waters of the Door Peninsula claimed 24 sailing vessels between 1837-1914. Surrounding islands, shoals and bays took 40 others between the 1830s and 1940s. Shipwrecks prompted the construction of Sturgeon Bay’s canal in 1881, giving rise to the county’s famous lighthouses, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation Program.

America’s Dairyland is full of urban legends and fascinating folklore. Consider these haunted tales from around the state:

In the late 1800s, the college town of Whitewater in southern Wisconsin was known as the Second Salem.

Devil’s Lake in Sauk County is the center of three Wisconsin legends, including the story of Thunder Bird.

With local restaurant weeks popping up across the state, Wisconsin food connoisseurs have reason to rejoice.

The National Archives has launched a Citizen Archivist program, enlisting virtual volunteers to improve the accessibility of its records.

In 1848, the first paper mill opened on the Lower Fox River in Appleton, launching the industry that put Wisconsin on the map. In 12 years, the state became the Midwest’s top paper producer.

The Pfister Hotel is “a place where things happen,” says chief concierge Peter Mortensen. In his 30 years at the landmark hotel, he’s seen it all — Mortensen likens choosing a standout memory to deciding on a favorite child.

Even before Jean Nicolet, the first European to explore the Great Lakes while seeking passage to the Orient, impressed Green Bay’s native Ho-Chunk with his Chinese silk robes and a pistol in each hand in 1634, the people of this land have known it’s more than fly-over (or paddle-through) country. It’s a place of notable, historical “firsts,” including the following six: