Near Wausau in Marathon County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Pineries
Photographed By Keith L, June 7, 2014
1. The Pineries Marker
Timber cut from these pineries floated downstream as raw logs or rafts of sawn lumber. The Wisconsin River was the most treacherous of the lumber streams, and many raftsmen lost their lives running logs over the rapids and whitewater.
In 1916, long after the arrival of the railroads, one of the state's last great river drives took place on the Rib River, below you. By the 1920's, most of the northern pineries had been logged off, and Wisconsin's logging era started drawing to a close.
Panel courtesy of the Wausau Area Jaycees and the Friends of Rib Mountain.
Erected by the Wausau Area Jaycees and the Friends of Rib Mountain.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 44° 55.293′ N, 89° 41.012′ W. Marker is near Wausau, Wisconsin, in Marathon County. Marker can be reached from Park Road, 2.2 miles west of County Highway N, on the right when traveling west. Marker is at
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mountain View (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rib Mountain State Park (approx. half a mile away); Ancient Ripples (approx. half a mile away); To Charles E. Parker (approx. half a mile away); Monadnocks (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Rib Mountain State Park (approx. half a mile away); First Teachers Training School in Wisconsin (approx. 3.2 miles away); Historical Memorial Park (approx. 3˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wausau.
More about this marker. captions:
• A Wisconsin River "rapids-piece" was usually made up of six cribs of sawn lumber each measuring 12 to 16 feet wide and 16 feet long. Jim McEvay '96
• Photo courtesy of the Marathon County Historical Museum.
Also see . . .
1. The History of the Upper Midwest: An Overview. "There were rapids to be negotiated. There were always log jams, often of legendary proportions, that had to be broken up, at the peril of life and limb." (Submitted on June 8, 2014.)
2. Log driving. Wikipedia entry. "Each crew was accompanied
Photographed By Keith L, June 7, 2014
2. The Pineries Marker
3. Timber rafting. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on June 8, 2014.)
Photographed By Keith L, June 7, 2014
3. The Pineries Marker
Photographed By Keith L, June 7, 2014
4. Landscape
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 647 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
