Things to do / Travel Guide
With the vast migrations of people to have settled in Chicago and southern Wisconsin, history is apparent on this region's every street corner. From the devastating Chicago fire and the city's rebirth, to the fight for change in social welfare, Chicago and southern Wisconsin is rich with historical places waiting to be explored.
Historical Sites in Chicago
Buildings that have survived the 1871 Great Fire are, by definition, historic. The icon of the pre-fire city and one of the most recognized landmarks is the Chicago Water Tower on the Magnificent Mile. The oldest surviving house in the city, Henry B. Clarke House, is part of the Prairie Avenue House Museum. Another example, Soldiers Home, dates back to the Civil War days.
Fort Dearborn was demolished before the Great Fire, and the site is now occupied by the Michigan Avenue Bridge. A series of plaques at the site give a good graphical introduction to the history of Chicago.
Three buildings of note are preserved as small museums:
- Ida B. Wells house, honoring the life of an early African-American activist and NAACP founder.
- Jane Addams Hull-House – a settlement house in Little Italy
- Chess Records Office and Studio, might be better known if it was called the “Place where Chicago Blues and Rock began their journey to your iPod”. Chuck Berry spent time here and so can you.
Historical Sites in Milwaukee and Southern Wisconsin
In Milwaukee there are a few historic districts with lots to show. These are the Historic Third Ward, a factory and warehouse district on North Milwaukee Street; Walker's Point, a 19th-century neighborhood on West National Avenue; Old World Third Street, with its 19th-century German roots; and Yankee Hill, a Victorian neighborhood on East State Street. Walking tours are the best for experiencing these areas.
What would the United States be without the hog? Harley-Davidsons are an icon in U.S. culture. Started in 1903 by William S. Harley and his good buddy Arthur Davidson created an empire that exists more than 100 years later. Just outside of Milwaukee, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin stands the Harley-Davidson power train engine factory. Take a gander at how the engines are built for the hogs, while taking in vintage bikes on display, and a video on the company's history.
For the more refined adventurer, the Captain Fredrick Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee is complete with period furniture. You can take a walking tour of one of the most magnificent homes in Wisconsin. It's a great throwback to early Milwaukee, and how the elite lived.
Beyond the city of Milwaukee, about 30 minutes north, Old World Wisconsin preserves the structures of the various immigrations to Wisconsin.
Historical Sites in New Glarus, Wisconsin
While there is not a specific historical place to see in New Glarus, the entire city is filled with old time Swiss charm. Walking around the city, you'll see throwbacks to the nineteenth century when people churned their own butter and the Swiss culture was running through ever crevice of the city.
Historical Sites in Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Madison
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