On Clinton Street 0.1 miles north of County Route X, on the right when traveling east.
Philip Allen, a Revolutionary War veteran, and his children, Philip Jr., Harvey, Sidney, Pliny, Asa Keyes, and Persis, came from New York in May, 1845, to settle in Allen Grove. Sixty-five Allens traveled by canal boat, steamboat, and overland from . . . — — Map (db m33615) HM
On Du Sable Drive at Dunbar Avenue on Du Sable Drive.
Lake Ivanhoe was established in 1926 as the first Black-founded resort community in Wisconsin. Black people moved away from the South to escape the racial oppression of Jim Crow and to pursue better schooling and jobs; but they still faced racial . . . — — Map (db m245031) HM
This tablet in honor of
John Bruce
One of the earliest settlers in Darien
and donor of the land for this park
to the Village of Darien
This highway is an old Indian Trail
and Territorial Road. It was, and now is,
used as a . . . — — Map (db m39005) HM
On Walworth Avenue (Wisconsin Route 11), on the right when traveling west.
The Mabie Brothers U.S. Olympic Circus, then the largest in America, arrived here in 1847 to become the first circus to quarter in the Wisconsin Territory. Between 1847-1894, Delavan was home to 26 different circus companies, making Delavan the . . . — — Map (db m273110) HM
On South Seventh Street at Wisconsin Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Seventh Street.
At this site, March 20, 1871, the first P.T. Barnum Circus was loaded on rail cars and transported to Brooklyn, NY where it made its initial performance on April 10, 1871. The circus was conceived and organized in Delavan by William C. Coup and Dan . . . — — Map (db m109261) HM
On South 7th Street (Wisconsin Route 50) at East Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on South 7th Street.
Delavan Civil War volunteers assembled beneath this Burr Oak tree, for muster, 1861-1864, before boarding trains for the Union Army training camps.
This tree is approximately 242 years old.
The Muster Tree
The railway station . . . — — Map (db m273264) HM WM
On East Walworth Avenue 0.1 miles east of Main Street, on the right when traveling west.
Dusty and rutted in dry spells, muddy and miserable in wet, Delavan’s main street, Walworth Avenue, remained unpaved from the 1830’s until the second decade of the 20th century. In 1911, Delavan’s City Council voted to pave the three block central . . . — — Map (db m273141) HM
In 1847 two New York brothers, Edmund and Jeremiah Mabie, toured Wisconsin with their United States Olympic Circus. The circus stopped over in Delavan and the brothers took time off to hunt prairie chicken near Delavan Lake. They liked the area so . . . — — Map (db m272863) HM
On Walworth Avenue (Wisconsin Route 11), on the right when traveling west.
This area was a hub of circus activity during the 1847-1895 period when 26 circuses spent their winters in Delavan. Built in 1848, the three-story building north of this park at 117 Park Place was the Park Hotel. The Park Hotel housed many circus . . . — — Map (db m273113) HM
On West Walworth Avenue (State Highway 11) at Beloit Street (County Route X), on the right when traveling west on West Walworth Avenue.
In 1839 Ebenezer Cheseboro emigrated to Wisconsin from New York and settled in the town of Darien, two miles west of Delavan on the Janesville road. Due to the lack of a school for his deaf daughter, Ariadna, a teacher of the deaf was hired to come . . . — — Map (db m33473) HM
On Church St. 0.2 miles north of Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
The East Troy Railroad is the last vestige of Wisconsin’s once broad network of electric interurban railways. Concentrated in the southeastern quarter of the State this network once totaled approximately 385 miles of track. Most of the interurban . . . — — Map (db m80526) HM
Dedicated to the Memory of
Jerry Himebauch
Patrolman for the Walworth County Public Works Department form 1993 - 2012.
Jerry faithfully maintained this section of I-43 keeping it safe for motorist in all seasons.
Jerry died in service . . . — — Map (db m272875) HM
On East Rockwell Street at South Washington Street, on the left when traveling west on East Rockwell Street.
Originally erected in the public square in 1836, this edifice was the local land office during Wisconsin’s territorial years. It was abandoned in 1840 and later moved to this site. From 1857 until his death in 1875, this was the home of noted . . . — — Map (db m40439) HM
Carl Friman (1781-1862) emigrated from Sweden with five sons in 1838 and purchased 80 acres near Genoa City. The Friman family members were recognized as the first Swedes to settle permanently in Wisconsin. Returning to his homeland, Friman . . . — — Map (db m42498) HM
On Wrigley Drive at Center Street, on the left when traveling south on Wrigley Drive.
1877 Sidney Smith 1935
This statue of "Andy Gump", celebrated cartoon character introduced in 1917 as the first daily comic strip in the Chicago Tribune, was the first erected in 1924 on the Lake Geneva estate of his originator, . . . — — Map (db m87289) HM
On Broad Street, on the right when traveling north.
The summer of 1913 brought the "Millionaire's Special" to town on it's daily run from Chicago. This photo was taken facing southeast from the two story hotel across Broad Street. The Ford automobile was just to the left of where this sign is today. — — Map (db m271719) HM
On Dodge Street east of Maxwell Street, on the right when traveling west.
Robert J. Bart, 22nd Wisconsin, Company G • John W. Beeden, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, Company E • William H. Case, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, Company G • Lieutenant Asa W. Fars, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, Companies A, F & S • David Fairchild, 49th . . . — — Map (db m241431) WM
On Main Street (State Highway 50), on the left when traveling south.
The 26 mile lakeside trail around Geneva Lake was used by several Indian cultures starting as early as 2500 B.C. & continuing up to 1836 A.D.. Chief Big Foot's Potawatomi Tribe walked the trail between their villages at present Fontana, Williams . . . — — Map (db m271506) HM
On Main Street (Wisconsin Route 50) at Cook Street, on the left when traveling west on Main Street.
A History of Lake Geneva
The Geneva Lake area has been inhabited since at least 8000 B.C., beginning with Paleo-Indians and later the Oneota culture followed by the Potawatomi Indians. The first recorded explorers included Col. John Kinzie in . . . — — Map (db m241381) HM
On Williams Street (County Route H) at North Street, on the left when traveling north on Williams Street.
On this site in 1890, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad built a new passenger depot to replace an earlier wood frame building. The structure consisted of three separate red brick buildings, including a baggage house, awaiting room and ticket . . . — — Map (db m241433) HM
On Main Street (Wisconsin Route 50) at Broad Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street.
Main Street Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
Dating from the 1860's Lake Geneva's Historic District buildings illustrate Italianate, Classical Revival, . . . — — Map (db m241378) HM
Main Street Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
Dating from the 1860's Lake Geneva's Historic District buildings illustrate Italianate, Classical Revival, . . . — — Map (db m241379) HM
On Broad Street at Geneva Street, on the right when traveling south on Broad Street.
The Maple Park Historic District was platted as the first residential district in the original Village of Geneva in 1837. It includes the first town square (Maple Park) and Pioneer Cemetery. It also contains many of the earliest residences dating . . . — — Map (db m76588) HM
On Cook Street north of Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Reported missing.
The Maple Park Historic District was platted as the first residential district in the original Village of Geneva in 1837. It includes the first town square (Maple Park) and Pioneer Cemetery. It also contains many of the earliest residences dating . . . — — Map (db m220892) HM
On Broad Street (County Road H) at Wisconsin Street, on the right when traveling south on Broad Street.
The Maple Park Historic District was platted as the first residential district in the original Village of Geneva in 1837. It includes the first town square (Maple Park) and Pioneer Cemetery. It also contains many of the earliest residences dating . . . — — Map (db m270482) HM
On Warren Street at Main Street ( Route 50), on the right when traveling north on Warren Street.
The Maple Park Historic District was platted as the first residential district in the original Village of Geneva in 1837. It includes the first town square (Maple Park) and Pioneer Cemetery. It also contains many of the earliest residences dating . . . — — Map (db m270485) HM
On Main Street (State Highway 50) at Maxwell Street, on the left when traveling south on Main Street.
The Maple Park Historic District was platted as the first residential district in the original village of Geneva in 1837. It includes the first town square (Maple Park) and Pioneer Cemetery. It also constains many of the earliest residences dating . . . — — Map (db m271504) HM
On Dodge Street near Warren Street, on the right when traveling west.
The first cemetery in Lake Geneva. In 1837, seven men who were early landowners in section 36, gave land to the village for public purposes. They wanted areas for parks, churches, schools, & a cemetery. Thomas McKaig was hired to survey the land. . . . — — Map (db m241429) HM
On Main Street (Hwy 50) (Wisconsin Route 50), on the right when traveling west.
Built in 1847 by a local merchant, this house was later owned by Chicago newspaper publisher Charles Wilson. During the Civil War, Wilson was an ambassador to England. In the 1870's he helped obtain the railroad link from Chicago that made Geneva . . . — — Map (db m270508) HM
On Main Street (Wisconsin Route 50) west of Cook Street, on the right when traveling east.
Between 1895 and 1954, the Lake Geneva Public Library was housed in a wooden house on this site. the house had been built by Geneva attorney Asa W. Farr in the late 1850's. During the Civil War, Farr was a lieutenant in the Union Army. Unarmed, . . . — — Map (db m271716) HM
On Baker Street east of Wrigley Drive, on the right when traveling west.
At the crest of the hill in this park overlooking Geneva Lake, the Lake Geneva Seminary (For Young Ladies) was built for its founder, Anna W. Moody, in December 1867. It served as a preparatory school for young women for almost three decades. In . . . — — Map (db m241420) HM
On West Main Street (State Highway 50) at Mill Street, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street.
In 1837 early settlers in the Village of Geneva constructed this Mill Race to harness the power of the White River, the only outlet from Geneva Lake. Soon flour mills saw mills and factories were constructed and in 1897 electricity was generated by . . . — — Map (db m161019) HM
[On the etched stone:]
I am not a badge of Honor,
I am not a racist smear,
I am not a fashion statement
To be worn but once a year,
I am not glorification
Of conflict or of war.
I am not a paper ornament
A token,
I am more.
I . . . — — Map (db m241421) WM
The Riviera was designed by architect James Roy Allen
and constructed during the Depression by the city
of Lake Geneva to provide jobs for local workers.
The cost of $55,000 was paid by the sale of public
bonds. Construction began on March 2, . . . — — Map (db m220921) HM
On Wrigley Drive 0.1 miles south of Main Street ( Route 50), on the right when traveling north.
Across Geneva Lake's outlet to the north at the foot of Broad Street stood Lake Geneva's first resort hotel, the four story Whiting House. It was built by David T. Whiting in April, 1873 and burned to the ground on July 9, 1894.
The Hotel . . . — — Map (db m241365) HM
The Geneva Area Museum of History is housed in the former Wisconsin Power & Light Building. The Lake Geneva Water & Light Co. built the original building in 1894 and expanded it in 1929. In 1897 the Haskins Electric Co. first generated electricity . . . — — Map (db m241377) HM
On County Route BB 0.5 miles west of Hillside Road, on the right when traveling east.
The Linn Junior Farmers Club was the first 4-H Club organized in Wisconsin. Mrs. May Hatch, local community leader, and Thomas L. Bewick, newly appointed State Boys and Girls Club Leader at the University of Wisconsin, organized the club here on the . . . — — Map (db m191342) HM
On Bluff Road at Palmyra Road (County Highway Z), on the left when traveling east on Bluff Road.
Patriot David Janes served the cause of gaining our nation's independence from England while a dedicated member of the military. A descendant of William Bradford III, the first Governor of the Plymouth Colony, David was born in 1762. In the . . . — — Map (db m46669) HM
On East Main Street at North Wakely Street, on the left when traveling east on East Main Street.
Two Revolutionary war veterans, Eli Pearce and Israel Ferris, are buried in this cemetery.
Born August 24, 1760, in Middleborough, Massachusetts, Eli Pierce enlisted April 13, 1776, and served six months in Col. Christopher Lippett's Rhode . . . — — Map (db m43483) HM
On West Whitewater Street, on the right when traveling north.
This pioneer-era stone stable was originally located in the alley near the First English Lutheran Church on Main Street and was moved to its present site near the Depot Museum in 2007. The stone stable is a rare example of early stone construction . . . — — Map (db m191292) HM
On West Whitewater Street at S. Fremont Street, on the right when traveling east on West Whitewater Street.
This abandoned passenger depot, purchased by the City of Whitewater in April 1973 and leased to the Whitewater Historical Society for 99 years, was dedicated as a museum July 21, 1974. The 85-year old classic Victorian structure was the hub of . . . — — Map (db m68446) HM
The Whitewater Passenger Depot was built in 1890-91 for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad, later known as the Milwaukee Road. It replaced the original frame depot, which was erected in 1852 when the railroad first came to Whitewater. The . . . — — Map (db m191295) HM
Near State Highway 67 0.2 miles south of Palmer Road, on the right when traveling north.
Side A The Williams Bay Air Force Radar Station, home of the 755th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, was part of a nationwide Cold War effort to defend the continent against possible airborne attack from the Soviet Union. In the years . . . — — Map (db m40472) HM
