West Allis in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Camp Harvey

June 6, 2008

1. Camp Harvey Marker

Inscription. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April of 1898, President William McKinley called on the states to gather their military forces. State officials ordered the Wisconsin National Guard to report for duty at Camp Harvey, named for Wisconsin Civil War Governor Louis P. Harvey and located on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park.

The Wisconsin National Guard had been established in 1879 to improve the existing militia system. The war with Spain (1898-1899) demonstrated for the first time the value of the National Guard as a reserve component of the Army. In a time of crisis, the Guard units from Wisconsin and the other states could rapidly augment the small active-duty forces.

Wisconsin contributed 5,469 men divided into four infantry regiments for service in the Spanish-American War. The First and Fourth Wisconsin Infantry regiments never left the United States. The Second and Third Wisconsin Infantry regiments participated in military operations in Puerto Rico, where they lost two men killed in action. A total of 132 Wisconsinites died from disease, principally typhoid fever.

Erected 1992 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 318.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military

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• War, Spanish-American. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1898.

Location. 43° 1.151′ N, 88° 0.847′ W. Marker is in West Allis, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. Marker can be reached from West Greenfield Avenue (State Highway 59) north of South 81st Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the Wisconsin State Fair Park (near Gate 2), at the left side of the main (north) entrance to the Wisconsin Exposition Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8200 West Greenfield Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wisconsin State Fair Park (a few steps from this marker); President Abraham Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Tee Sisikeja (Bad Waters Village) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Honey Creek Settlement (approx. 0.6 miles away); Wadhams Gas Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Honey Creek School Site (approx. 0.7 miles away); Harrison Ludington Farm

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(approx. 1.1 miles away); Wood National Cemetery Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Allis.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of other markers related to Governor and Mrs. Harvey.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,709 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photo 1. submitted on June 14, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.