Near Waterford in Racine County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Old Muskego

Photographed by Paul F, August 17, 2009

1. Old Muskego Marker

Inscription. Under the leadership of John Luraas, forty pioneers came to Muskego Lake from Norway in 1839, to found one of the most important settlements in Norwegian-American history. After temporary set-backs, the settlement flourished here through the leadership of Even Heg, Johannes Johanssen, Soren Bache, Elling Eilsen, James Reymert and Claus Clausen, who sent glowing reports to Norway and encouraged a large movement to this country.
This settlement gave rise to the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation organized in America (1843) and published the first Norwegian-American newspaper. Old Muskego became well known as a mother colony to other settlements, schools and churches springing up on the new frontier. Countless wagonloads of newcomers stopped here before continuing west.
Nearby Heg Park commemorates Colonel Hans C. Heg, one of Wisconsin’s Civil War heroes.

Erected 1963 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 129.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 42° 48.219′ N, 88° 10.296′ W. Marker is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

near Waterford, Wisconsin, in Racine County. It is at the intersection of Heg Park Road and Norway Hill Road, on the right when traveling north on Heg Park Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waterford WI 53185, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

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 Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Waterford Village Cemetery – est. 1843 (approx. 3.4 miles away); Maney Ridge Prehistoric Effigy Mounds (approx. 4.8 miles away); Dodges Corners Cemetery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Village of Big Bend (approx. 5½ miles away); Haseltine Cobblestone House (approx. 6½ miles away); Town of Vernon (approx. 6.7 miles away); Old Muskego Town Hall (approx. 6.7 miles away); The Devil's Teapot (approx. 6.8 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Muskego (was approx. 6½ miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. Muskego Settlement, Wisconsin. Wikipedia article that states, in part, "Swamp fever, ague, and malaria plagued the early settlers at Muskego. The settlement was afflicted by cholera at least twice, in 1849 and 1851. Ultimately, the original settlement site was abandoned, and the settlers relocated principally to other locations in southern Wisconsin." (Submitted on November 22, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. Hans Christian Heg. Wikipedia

Photographed by Paul F, August 17, 2009

2. Old Muskego Marker

article about the "Norwegian American abolitionist, journalist, anti-slavery activist, politician and soldier, best known for leading the Scandinavian 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment on the Union side in the American Civil War... [who] died of the wounds he received at the Battle of Chickamauga." (Submitted on November 22, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,025 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 9, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.