Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Milwaukee's Changing Lakefront
Photographed By Devon Polzar, 2018
1. Milwaukee's Changing Lakefront Marker
Inscription.
Milwaukee's Changing Lakefront. . Milwaukee's three rivers and surrounding wetlands first attracted Native Americans to the area. The water provided game, waterfowl, fish and wild rice. These waterways also provided transportation routes for their canoes and dugouts that carried food and goods.
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.
Milwaukee's three rivers and surrounding wetlands first attracted Native Americans to the area. The water provided game, waterfowl, fish and wild rice. These waterways also provided transportation routes for their canoes and dugouts that carried food and goods.
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
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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 Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Lakeshore State Park.
Location. 43° 2.069′ N, 87° 53.819′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in the Historic Third Ward. 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lake Michigan Water Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carferry SS Milwaukee (approx. 0.2 miles away);
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 606 times since then and 57 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.
