Until the nineteenth century, white settlement in Wisconsin was sparse and centered almost solely on the fur trade and military posts at Green Bay, LaPointe, and Prairie du Chien. With increased westward migration after the War of 1812, white settlers initially settled in two areas: the lead mining regions along the Mississippi and along the lakeshore in what later became the city of Milwaukee. Because water routes remained the only feasible means for travel and transporting goods in the early nineteenth century, towns and cities usually fanned out from rivers and lakes. Although the major lead mining towns of Platteville,... more...
![Link to article: A teenager comes to Green Bay as a new bride in 1824.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A teenager comes to Green Bay as a new bride in 1824. |
![Link to article: An early Yankee settler recalls Prairie du Chien's infancy.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An early Yankee settler recalls Prairie du Chien's infancy. |
![Link to article: The Origin of Milwaukee's name](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The Origin of Milwaukee's name |
![Link to article: Letters from Milwaukee in its infancy, 1836-1846](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Letters from Milwaukee in its infancy, 1836-1846 |
![Link to article: A journalist describes Ashland's premature demise, and its resurrection.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A journalist describes Ashland's premature demise, and its resurrection. |
![Link to article: Memories of Milwaukee's first family](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Memories of Milwaukee's first family |
![Link to article: The founding of Portage, by Frederick Jackson Turner (1883)](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The founding of Portage, by Frederick Jackson Turner (1883) |
![Link to article: A young boy's experience of Madison in the 1830's](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A young boy's experience of Madison in the 1830's |
![Link to article: Recollections of Old Superior](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of Old Superior |
![Link to article: An Indian woman founds the town of Marinette](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An Indian woman founds the town of Marinette |
![Link to article: A woman's memoir of the founding of Sheboygan](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A woman's memoir of the founding of Sheboygan |
![Link to article: Quality of life in Madison in 1850](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Quality of life in Madison in 1850 |
![Link to article: Madison is promoted as a tourist destination in 1877](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Madison is promoted as a tourist destination in 1877 |
![Link to article: A Green Bay girlhood in the 1820s.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Green Bay girlhood in the 1820s. |
![Link to book: Promoters describe Superior in its infancy](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Promoters describe Superior in its infancy |
![Link to book: Promoters try to entice settlers to Bayfield County](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Promoters try to entice settlers to Bayfield County |
![Link to book: A colorful and opinionated guide to Milwaukee businesses, 1877](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A colorful and opinionated guide to Milwaukee businesses, 1877 |
![Link to book: An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin |
![Link to book: An early history of Madison illustrated with contemporary photographs](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An early history of Madison illustrated with contemporary photographs |
![Link to book: A local historian chats about Prairie du Chien (vol. 1)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A local historian chats about Prairie du Chien (vol. 1) |
![Link to book: A local historian chats about Prairie du Chien (vol. 2)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A local historian chats about Prairie du Chien (vol. 2) |
![Link to collections: The Founding and Early History of Madison](/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | The Founding and Early History of Madison |
![Link to images: The first house in Madison, built in 1837](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | The first house in Madison, built in 1837 |
![Link to images: Madison's first white woman settler](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Madison's first white woman settler |
![Link to images: Bird's-eye views of Wisconsin cities and towns](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Bird's-eye views of Wisconsin cities and towns |
![Link to images: Prairie du Chien merchant and judge James H. Lockwood, 1856.](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Prairie du Chien merchant and judge James H. Lockwood, 1856. |
![Link to images: Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868 |
![Link to manuscript: A historian and old settler describes Milwaukee's origins, 1873.](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A historian and old settler describes Milwaukee's origins, 1873. |
![Link to manuscript: An early Milwaukee settler recalls the city's infancy](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | An early Milwaukee settler recalls the city's infancy |
![Link to manuscript: Oral traditions about Milwaukee's founding](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Oral traditions about Milwaukee's founding |
![Link to map: A territorial leader lays out imaginary city blocks in Milwaukee (1835).](/turningpoints/images/map.gif) | A territorial leader lays out imaginary city blocks in Milwaukee (1835). |
![Link to map: Two founders of Milwaukee design its downtown in 1837.](/turningpoints/images/map.gif) | Two founders of Milwaukee design its downtown in 1837. |
![Link to map: The imaginary capital city that its chief promoter envisioned, 1836.](/turningpoints/images/map.gif) | The imaginary capital city that its chief promoter envisioned, 1836. |
![Link to map: States and territories created under the Northwest Ordinance.](/turningpoints/images/map.gif) | States and territories created under the Northwest Ordinance. |