Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Historic Lake Geneva
Photographed By Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024
1. Historic Lake Geneva Marker
A History of Lake Geneva
The Geneva Lake area has been inhabited since at least 8000 B.C., beginning with Paleo-Indians and later the Oneota culture followed by the Potawatomi Indians. The first recorded explorers included Col. John Kinzie in 1831 and surveyor John Brink, who named the lake "Geneva Lake" in 1834. The first recorded settler was Christopher Payne in 1836. The village of Geneva was incorporated in 1844 and became the city of Lake Geneva in 1886. The arrival of the railroad in the early 1870's combined with the Chicago Fire in October of 1871 led to Lake Geneva becoming a tourist destination for wealthy Midwesterners, earning the name "Newport of the West." Visitors over the years have included Mary Todd Lincoln, generals Phil Sheridan and William Sherman and President Ulysses S. Grant
National Register District
A. Maple Park National Historic District
B. Main Street National Historic District
National Register Properties
1. Metropolitan Block (1874) (Now the Landmark Center)
2. T.C. Smith House (1880)
3. Redwood Cottage, Emily Baker Residence
4. Younglands (1899) (Now Stone Manor)
5. Younglands Manor (1901)
6. Horticultural Hall (1912)
7. Riviera (1932)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 42° 35.501′ N, 88° 26.234′ W. Marker is in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in Walworth County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (Wisconsin Route 50) and Cook Street, on the left when traveling west on Main Street. Marker is about 200 feet east of the entrance to the Lake Geneva Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Maple Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lake Geneva Public Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Historic District (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Riviera (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Maple Park (about 700 feet away); The Poppy (about 700 feet away); Veterans Memorial
Photographed By Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024
2. Historic Lake Geneva Marker
A west-facing photo, with the Lake Geneva Public Library and Main Street in the background. The blue marker is one of many around Lake Geneva showing a map of the area.
More about this marker. The marker includes a map of the center of the city of Lake Geneva, highlighting the two historic district referenced on the marker.
Regarding Historic Lake Geneva. The Col. John Kinzie referenced on this marker was a Chicago politician and the son of the John Kinzie considered to be Chicago's first permanent white settler. Col. Kinzie was serving as an Indian subagent at Fort Winnebago in what is now Portage, Wisconsin, and he and his wife stopped at the lake while returning on a trip from Chicago. There, the Kinzies came upon a Potawatomie Indian encampment near what today is Fontana, a town on the opposite (west) end of Geneva Lake.
John Brink, a native of Upstate New York, is a surveyor who assisted in surveying much of Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin and Eastern Iowa. He later served as surveyor for McHenry County, Illinois, which abuts Walworth County, and laid out the plans for Crystal Lake, Illinois, about 30 miles south of here.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, February 19, 2024
3. Geneva Lake
Geneva Lake can be seen in the background of this photo taken a few yards from the marker (which is off-camera). The library is on the right side, while a canteen erected by the local American Legion post is on the left.
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, circa 1882
4. "Bird's eye view of Lake Geneva, Walworth Co., Wis. 1882"
An 1882 map of Lake Geneva
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 64 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 19, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
