The Milwaukee River at Play

The Milwaukee River at Play. . From pioneer days well into the 20th century, the River was a year-round playground for the generations, used for boating, swimming, fishing, curling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, tobogganing and ice skating. Swimming schools, boat rental facilities and resorts thrived. , , Leisure-time boating became so popular that a clear summer day could witness the launch of 1,000 canoes. A steady stream of regattas, boat exhibitions and warm evenings filled with live music and Chinese lanterns regularly lured Milwaukeeans to relax at the River. A passenger ferry shuttled Milwaukeeans from North Avenue to downtown. The Christopher Columbus, a whaleback steamer, carried thousands of shoppers and sightseers to Chicago daily. , , Milwaukee's first winter sports meet was organized at Gordon Park in 1925. Other cold-weather celebrations, like the 1926 Milwaukee Ice Carnival, drew huge crowds to watch skating, hockey and skiing. , , Though swimming and winter activities on the River began to wane in the 1930s, Milwaukee has seen a resurgence of River-oriented recreation since the 1990s. Better public access to the River; civic events such as movies, concerts and crew races; and the growing popularity of boating activities, ranging from kayaking and rowing clubs to dining cruises and sightseeing boats, have all brought the River a new energy.