Milwaukee's Changing Lakefront
In the early 1800's, these same waters attracted German, Irish, Italian, Polish and other immigrants who also appreciated the area's natural harbor, abundant water and fertile soils. Soon thousands of schooners sailed Lake Michigan transporting people and goods. Milwaukee grew rapidly, and soon became the world's leading exporter of wheat.
Right from the start, the early settlers modified the wetlands and rivers to improve the harbor and provide better access to the rivers. They moved the river entrance 1/4 mile north to its present location, and filled the wetlands in what is now downtown Milwaukee, the Third Ward, and the Menomonee Valley.
The Map above shows the original shoreline, rivers and wetlands (shaded) of Milwaukee. The blue lines show the current configuration.
The shoreline was also filled - the original shoreline was over 1,000 feet to the west of this sign, well behind the Hoan Bridge you see in the distance. Land use also changed rapidly. The Summerfest grounds to the west of the Park, established in 1970, were previously lake bottom, an airport and then a Nike missile base.
The land under Lakeshore State Park was the last of the lakefront fills. In the 1980's, the "island" portion was constructed from rock mined from the Deep Tunnel project - 17 miles of tunnel below Milwaukee constructed to improve Milwaukee's waste water treatment.
Lakeshore State Park, Wisconsin's newest and only urban State Park, opened in 2007. The park provides permanent access to the lakefront and an oasis from the bustle of the city. Enjoy the prairies, birds and great views of Milwaukee and Lake Michigan on your visit.
Erected by NOAA
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series list.
Location. 43° 2.069′ N, 87° 53.819′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in the Historic Third Ward. It can be reached from North Harbor Drive. The marker is just inside the North entrance to Lakeshore State Park from Urban Park (Milwaukee City Park). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Lakeshore State Park 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee WI 53202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Milwaukee Cargo Pier (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lake Michigan Water Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carferry SS Milwaukee (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Milwaukee (approx. 0.4 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 0.4 miles away); Milwaukee County War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Historic Milwaukee (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,477 times since then and 96 times this year. Last updated on April 5, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 27, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
