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

Auto Race

Green Bay to Madison

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, May 14, 2012

1. Auto Race Marker

in new location in Wilcox Park

Inscription. In 1875 the Wisconsin Legislature offered a prize of $10,000 to the citizen of this state who could produce a machine "which shall be a cheap and practical substitute for the use of horses and other animals on the highway and farm." Such machine was to perform a journey of at least 200 miles, "propelled by its own internal power, at the average rate of at least five miles per hour, working time." By July, 1878, two steam-powered vehicles were ready to run the prescribed course from Green Bay to Madison. This highway was on the route of the "race" which was interrupted along the way to demonstrate the comparative pulling capacity of the machines. The entry sponsored by an Oshkosh group completed the trip in about 33 hours, but the other broke down and returned to Green Bay.

Erected 1956 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 45.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1878.

Location. 43° 37.658′ N, 88° 43.499′ W.

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Marker is in Waupun, Wisconsin, in Dodge County. It is at the intersection of South Watertown Street (Business State Highway 26) and Lincoln Street, on the right when traveling north on South Watertown Street. Marker has been moved and is now located in Wilcox Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waupun WI 53963, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

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 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carnegie Library (approx. 0.4 miles away); The End of the Trail (approx. ¾ mile away); Clarence Addison Shaler (approx. ¾ mile away); From Glacier to Refuge (approx. 2.6 miles away); Horicon Marsh (approx. 4 miles away); The Raube Road Site (approx. 7.1 miles away); First House Site in Dodge County, Wisconsin (approx. 9.6 miles away); Bernard R. "Bunny" Berigan

The Oshkosh steam wagon in front of John Morse’s Union Iron Works on Ceape St. in Oshkosh. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by 2, unknown

2. The Oshkosh steam wagon in front of John Morse’s Union Iron Works on Ceape St. in Oshkosh.

(approx. 10.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waupun.

Also see . . . Wisconsin’s Race to Replace the Horse. Wisconsin Magazine of history, Spring 2026 (Submitted on July 4, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, May 14, 2012

3. Auto Race Marker

in new location in Wilcox Park

Photographed by Keith L, September 27, 2009

4. Auto Race Marker

Picture taken at its original location.

Photographed by Keith L, September 27, 2009

5. Auto Race Marker

Picture taken at its original location.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,493 times since then and 214 times this year. Last updated on May 15, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on May 15, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on July 4, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on May 15, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4, 5. submitted on October 8, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.