Pleasant Prairie in Kenosha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Green Bay Ethnic Trail

Photographed by Paul F, September 28, 2010

1. Green Bay Ethnic Trail Marker

Inscription. Green Bay Road was the main route of settlement and communication in 19th century eastern Wisconsin. The road followed an ancient Indian trail network and was surveyed for use as a military road between Fort Dearborn (Chicago) and Fort Howard (Green Bay) by the United States War Department in 1835. Completed in 1840 with private funds, Green Bay Road served as the only north-south route in eastern Wisconsin for many years. Waves of European immigrants who came to Wisconsin seeking a new home travelled this route and settled along it. Eventually, about 30 different ethnic communities were established along Green Bay Road, leaving a rich cultural heritage that can be seen in their building methods, such as German “Fachwerk” and Irish fieldstone, heard in their place names like “Oostburg” and “Freistadt,” celebrated in their annual festivals such as “Holland Fest” and “Slovenian Picnic,” and observed in their unique architecture like rural “housebarn” and the ethnic church.

Erected 1998 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 378.)

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 42° 31.979′ N, 87° 53.488′ W. Marker is in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in Kenosha County. It is at the intersection of Green Bay Road (State Highway 31) and 95th Street, on the right when traveling north on Green Bay Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pleasant Prairie WI 53158, 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

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Name “Wisconsin” (approx. 3.1 miles away); Cordelia A.P. Harvey

Photographed by Paul F, November 16, 2010

2. Green Bay Ethnic Trail Marker

(approx. 3.1 miles away); Thirty-Second Division Memorial Highway (approx. 3.4 miles away); Auto Production in Kenosha (approx. 4.4 miles away); John McCaffery Burial Site (approx. 4½ miles away); John Bullen (approx. 4½ miles away); Kenosha Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.6 miles away); Lovell G.A.R. Post 230 Civil War Memorial (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pleasant Prairie.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Other markers regarding the Green Bay Road

Photographed by Paul F, November 16, 2010

3. Green Bay Ethnic Trail Marker

With Green Bay Road in background

Photographed by Paul F, November 16, 2010

4. Green Bay Ethnic Trail Marker

marker with We Energies Pleasant Prairie power plant in background

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,450 times since then and 106 times this year. Last updated on July 10, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3, 4. submitted on November 30, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.