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

Wisconsin State Fair Park

June 6, 2008

1. Wisconsin State Fair Park Marker

Inscription. In 1892, this site became the permanent home of the Wisconsin State Fair after its purchase a year earlier by the State Agricultural Society. Until then, the Fair had moved annually since the first one in Janesville in 1851.

Over the years, State Fair Park has not only showcased agriculture but also military, recreational and cultural activities. The Park housed troops and equipment for the Spanish-American War and for World Wars I and II. It has featured auto races since 1903, Green Bay Packer football games from 1934 to the 1950s, and world-class speed skating at its Olympic-sized rink since 1966. Cultural phenomena demonstrated at past Fairs included cooking with gas (1859), airplane flight (1911), and television (1932).

The State Fair Park Board, created in 1971, became an independent state agency in 1990. State Fair Park attracts two million visitors to hundreds of events throughout the year, including the Fair, the state's oldest and largest annual event.

Erected 1993 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 319.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Entertainment • Notable Events

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• Notable Places • Sports • War, Spanish-American • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 43° 1.151′ N, 88° 0.863′ 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 right 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. Camp Harvey (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

Nearby Plaque image. Click for full size.

June 6, 2008

2. Nearby Plaque

(approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Honey Creek School Site (approx. 0.7 miles away); Harrison Ludington Farm (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.

Also see . . . Official Website of the Wisconsin State Fair. (Submitted on September 12, 2013, by Trevor Morris of Fond du lac, Wisconsin.)

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 1,757 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.

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