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

Dunbar Oak

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 2, 2011

1. Dunbar Oak Marker

Inscription. Beneath an oak around August, 1868, Col. Richard Dunbar reclined after drinking freely from a nearby spring. He felt that continued use of its waters healed him of incurable diabetes. He called the spring “Bethesda” signifying mercy. He sold the waters nationally and beyond. Thus began the glamorous time known as the “Waukesha Springs ERA,” from 1868-1914.

On July 1991, the mighty 300 year old Dunbar Oak was felled by storm winds. The following spring, several cuttings were taken from the still-standing trunk. One graft was successful.

On May 24, 2004, to commemorate Waukesha’s 25 years as Tree City, U.S.A., the “new” Dunbar Oak returned to Bethesda Park where it was planted on the exact site of the original historic tree. The new tree is a cloned genetic duplicate of the original tree Col. Dunbar sat beneath.

Erected 2008 by Waukesha County Historical Museum Funded by the Friends of the Waukesha Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept. (Marker Number 34-06.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Notable Places. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1834.

Location. 43° 0.366′ N, 88° 14.39′ W. Marker is in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County

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. It is on Dunbar Avenue ¼ mile west of North West Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located n Bethesda Spring Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 560 Dunbar Avenue, Waukesha WI 53186, 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: INNIO Group's Waukesha Engine (approx. 0.2 miles away); Acme Spring (approx. ¼ mile away); Lindholm Vocational & Adult School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Cutler Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Milwaukee and Madison Railway Depot (approx. 0.4 miles away); Waukesha City - Cutler Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cohn's Shoe Store (approx. half a mile away); American Legion Home (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waukesha.

Other markers no longer nearby. Waukesha Engine Division (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Club 400 (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Les Paul (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Prehistoric Indian Mound (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Linda Hansen, 2011

2. Dunbar Oak Marker

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 2, 2011

3. Dunbar Oak Marker

Marker in front of "new" Dunbar Oak.

Photographed by Linda Hansen, 2011

4. Dunbar Oak

"New Dunbar Oak" next to marker and Bethesda Spring in the background.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 2, 2011

5. Dunbar Oak Marker

Bethesda Spring Park

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,856 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on June 6, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.