Janesville in Rock County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First State Fair

October 1-2, 1851

Photographed by William J. Toman, October 24, 2010

1. First State Fair Marker

Inscription. Thirteen counties were represented here at the first state fair sponsored by the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. Entries included horses, cattle, sheep, swine, farming implements, dairy products, flour and corn meal, domestic manufactures, needle work, fruits, vegetables and flowers. Highlights of the occasion were the plowing matches and an address by John W. Lathrop, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin. The fairgrounds contained 6 acres and about 10,000 people attended.

Erected 1954 by the Rock County Historical Society. (Marker Number 20.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list.

Location. 42° 41.047′ N, 89° 1.036′ W. Marker is in Janesville, Wisconsin, in Rock County. It is at the intersection of South Atwood Avenue and East Court Street, on the right when traveling north on South Atwood Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Atwood Avenue, Janesville WI 53545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Congregational Church (approx. half a mile away); Abraham Lincoln

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(approx. half a mile away); Janesville Tank Company (approx. 0.6 miles away); James E. Croft (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Plaza - Medal of Honor Veterans Walkway (approx. 0.9 miles away); Burr Robbins Circus (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Black Hawk War / Black Hawk's Grove (approx. 1.3 miles away); La Prairie Grange Hall (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Janesville.

Photographed by William J. Toman, October 24, 2010

2. First State Fair Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,389 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.