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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Near Rockland in Monroe County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

The Driftless Area

 
 
The Driftless Area Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Fitzie Heimdahl
1. The Driftless Area Marker
Refurbished State Historical Marker 272 moved to its new location. June 8, 2021
Inscription. Several times during the ice ages, glaciers flowed out of Canada, sometimes reaching as far south as the Ohio and Missouri rivers. During recent glaciations, southwestern Wisconsin was untouched, because the glaciers were diverted to the east or west by the highlands of north-central Wisconsin and northwestern Michigan.

Here, in the Driftless Area, you see a rugged landscape with deep valleys and rocky crags. Much of the Midwest would look like this today if it had not been glaciated, but the ice sheets smoothed those areas by eroding away the crags and filling in the valleys.

The Driftless Area was never completely surrounded by ice, and the glaciers reached only its eastern edge during the last glacial episode. At that time, about 15,000 years ago, the Wisconsin River was dammed by the glacier, and the sediment deposited in glacial Lake Wisconsin forms the flats between Tomah, Wisconsin Dells and Wisconsin Rapids. Then the Driftless Area was treeless and had a tundra climate.
 
Erected 1983 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 272.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list.
 
Location.
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43° 54.597′ N, 90° 52.845′ W. Marker is near Rockland, Wisconsin, in Monroe County. Marker can be reached from Interstate 90 at milepost 21, just east of County Highway J, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at westbound Rest Area #16 at mile marker 21 westbound lane I-90, Monroe County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rockland WI 54653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Coulee Country (a few steps from this marker); Donald "Deke" Slayton (approx. 3˝ miles away); Monroe County Courthouse (approx. 4.2 miles away); Masonic Lodge (approx. 4.2 miles away); U.S. Post Office (approx. 4.2 miles away); Sparta Free Library (approx. 4.2 miles away); Civil War Cannon (approx. 4˝ miles away); Wisconsin Child Center Cemetery (approx. 5.3 miles away).
 
Also see . . .
1. The Western Upland of Wisconsin. (Submitted on November 3, 2009.)
2. Wisconsin's Glacial Legacy. (Submitted on November 3, 2009.)
 
The Driftless Area Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Keith L, July 19, 2010
2. The Driftless Area Marker
The Driftless Area Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Keith L, July 19, 2010
3. The Driftless Area Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,582 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on June 8, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Photos:   1. submitted on June 8, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.   2, 3. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
 
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in its new location and its surroundings. • Can you help?

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Mar. 29, 2024