Center for Great Lakes Culture
Wisconsin

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State Historical Society of Wisconsin - The State Historical Society of Wisconsin is both a state agency and a  private membership organization. Founded in 1846-two years before statehood-and chartered in 1853, it is the oldest American historical society to receive continuous public funding. By statute, it is charged with  collecting, advancing, and disseminating knowledge of Wisconsin.
Chippewa Valley Museum
Wisconsin Women's History: A Bibliography
Women's History Collections in the Milwaukee Urban Archives - Milwaukee Urban Archives, Golda Meir Library, University of Wisconsin.
Native Americans in Wisconsin
Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa - The Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Reservation has been a permanent settlement since 1745. Located in the heart of Northern Wisconsin's lake country, the reservation is the site of some of the most interesting and historically significant displays of Indian culture in Wisconsin. Experience an intimate glimpse of 17th century tribal life at Wa Swa Goning, an authentic Ojibwe village located among twenty acres of forest on Moving Cloud Lake. The George W. Brown, Jr. Museum and Cultural Center houses one of the finest collections of Chippewa artifacts in the north. The museum also features workshops in basket weaving, beadwork and moccasin making. For a free guide to the Lac du Flambeau area, contact the above address.
Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin
Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin
Directory of Wisconsin Ethnic Organizations
Mormons in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Humanities Council
Wisconsin Arts Board - The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency responsible for the support and development of the arts throughout Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts  - The Assembly's mission is to advance the importance, development, and growth of  the arts and cultural activities in Wisconsin and all of its communities.
Native Wisconsin Home Page
University of Wisconsin--Center for Humanities - The Center for the Humanities is the primary forum on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus for coordinating and sponsoring interdisciplinary activities and events in the humanities.
University of Wisconsin-Extension - University of Wisconsin-Extension extends the knowledge and resources of the University ofWisconsin to people wherever they live and work.
Circus World Museum - Baraboo is the birthplace of the world-famous Ringling Bros. Circus. Today, the museum encompasses fifty acres of circus history. Thrill to the performances of world-class aerialists, animal acts and clowns presented under the Big Top! The museum also boasts the largest collection (150) of antique circus parade wagons in the world. The Irvin Field Exhibit Hall and Visitor Center is open year-round. It features three major exhibit areas: The Ringling brothers, circus art, and circus spectacles. Tour historic circus sites aboard a trolley, ride an elephant or antique carousel, listen to a steam calliope, or enjoy a circus parade.
First Capital - Some of Wisconsin's earliest history is interpreted at this historic site, the seat of government for the Wisconsin Territory for just 46 days in 1836. The first Supreme Court was also formed at the site. Of several hastily assembled frame buildings that stood at the site, two remain -- the Supreme Court building and a capitol called the Council House. The territorial legislature adjourned at the end of the brief session after selecting Madison as the permanent capital city.
Stonefield - Named after the estate of Wisconsin's first governor, Nelson Dewey, Stonefield historic site includes the State Agricultural Museum, which tells the story of Wisconsin agriculture from the 19th century to the 1920s. Nearby, across a covered wooden bridge, a village re-created in the image of rural Wisconsin towns of the 1890s recalls a time when small hamlets such as these served as social and commercial centers for outlying farms. Visit with shopkeepers and tradespeople as they re-enact daily village life. Then tour Governor Dewey's original homesite or enjoy a picnic on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.
Old World Wisconsin - More than fifty historic buildings once located all over Wisconsin now dot the hills and valleys of this outdoor museum of immigrant farm and village life. An 1870s crossroads village re-creates small town life in Wisconsin while farmsteads representing German, Polish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian immigrant settlers reflect the heritage of those who built them. Guides outfitted in the fashion of the day greet visitors as they travel from farmstead to farmstead aboard a tram, or hike nature trails winding through lush woods. Many authentic historic breeds of farm animals can also be seen working or grazing the site's fields and pastures.
Heritage Hill - A state park operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Heritage Hill is located at the intersection of Hwy 172 and Webster Avenue. The site is a 40-acre complex of twenty-five, furnished, historic buildings grouped into pioneer, small town, military and agricultural theme areas. Authentically costumed guides interpret the two hundred years of history found here. The complex presents the 1672 Wisconsin fur trade era, the 1836 military heritage of nearby Fort Howard, the homes and shops of 1871, and a 1905 cheese factory and Belgian farm.
Wade House & Wesley Jung Carriage Museum - Visit the Wade House and relive a time when the stagecoach ruled the road. Explore the rooms of this wonderful stagecoach inn, built in 1850. The Wade House served the locals as well as passing wagon traffic with provisions, rooms, meals and entertainment. Costumed guides lead you through a day in the lives of pioneer innkeepers and their patrons. Then, take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum and explore the collection of more than 120 restored hand and horse-drawn carriages, cutters, sleds and working wagons.
Madeline Island Historical Museum - Madeline Island, the largest of the pristine Apostle Islands, lies just off the tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula. Historically the spiritual homeland of the Ojibwa people, the island became an important hub of the fur trade in the 17th century and later was the site of commercial fishing and logging activity. By the early 20th century, the island had become a vacation getaway. Today, the museum exhibits a rich array of artifacts that relate to all these chapters in the island's long and colorful history: Indian artifacts and missionary memorabilia, logging, maritime and summertime tourism.
State Historical Museum - Located at the junction of Carroll, Mifflin and State streets on the Capitol Concourse, the museum presents permanent and changing exhibits on a wide range of topics in Wisconsin and American history -- from the prehistoric times to the 20th century. Two new floors of permanent exhibits recently opened. Only yards away, visitors can also tour the new Wisconsin Veteran's Museum and the magnificent state Capitol building. You can top off a visit to Madison's "museum mile" with an open-air picnic on the sprawling, flower-covered grounds of the Capitol.
Pendarvis - The discovery of lead ore in the hills of Mineral Point during the late 1820s lured prospectors to the area. Many were Cornish immigrants who built cottages and rowhouses in their traditional style out of locally quarried limestone. Just down the road is "Shake Rag Under the Hill," a restored area where 19th century craftspeople built their shops and homes. Costumed guides lead you through six of these restored homes and lovely gardens blooming with native woodland wildflowers. On a self-guided tour of the Merry Christmas Mine Hill, visitors can view a restored prairie, abandoned mine shafts and "badger" holes. Artists, galleries, antique shops and restaurants that serve Cornish fare add to the fun in Mineral Point.
Villa Louis - Villa Louis, an 1870s Victorian mansion, overlooks some of Wisconsin's most historic ground, including the site of the only battle of the War of 1812 fought in Wisconsin. Built by the family of Hercules Dousman, who amassed a fortune in the fur trade and other frontier investments, the house is stocked with numerous furnishings and artwork original to the Dousman household, making it one of the most authentically furnished Victorian houses in the nation. Other features include the Fur Trade Museum and the Museum of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin's second oldest city.
Wisconsin Dells History from the Pineries to the Present - The area comprised of the Menominee and Mohican Nations and Shawano County offers a unique perspective that illustrates Wisconsin's history from the virgin pine forests and pristine watersheds of the 18th century to the modern world of agriculture, industry, commerce and recreation. The Menominee's internationally acclaimed sustained-yield forests still illustrate what much of Wisconsin looked like when occupied by the Winnebago, Sioux, Menominee and Chippewa peoples. Today's thriving logging industry, dairying, manufacturing and recreation demonstrate how modern man can live with and preserve an area's natural heritage. Call for a free heritage tour map.
Iron County Heritage Area - Iron County's unique history is "Rooted in Resources" -- not only the resources found in the iron ore mines and lush forests of northern Wisconsin, but also in the people who settled the region. Iron County's story is told through Heritage Travel Corridors, each based on a historical interpretive theme. Corridors tell the stories of the ethnic settlements, lumberjack days, iron mining commmunities and Native American trading and travel. Trails are multi-modal allowing for a variety of recreation including mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, all-terrain vehicles and auto touring. Waterfall watchers can enjoy several charming cascades along the way. For a free Iron County Heritage Area Vacation Planner, contact the address above.
Point of Beginnings Heritage Area - Much of Wisconsin's history can be traced to the southwestern corner of the state -- our "Point of Beginnings." The lead miners of the 1820s were among the first European settlers of Wisconsin. The state's 1831 land survey began from a benchmark location near Hazel Green. The first territorial government met at Belmont in 1836. As a measure of the area’s rich history, four State Historic Sites (Pendarvis, Stonefield Village, First Capitol and Villa Louis) are located here. For a Heritage Trails of Southwest Wisconsin brochure, contact the address above.
Timber Trails of the Chippewa Valley - The mid-19th century lumber mill towns of Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Menomonie are in this heritage tourism area. Lumbering was big business in the white pine forests of the Chippewa Valley during the mid-1800s. The Chippewa River system was a natural assembly line for the production of timber and its float downstream to market. This project promotes more than one hundred historic places, including museums, tours, trails and events that allow visitors to experience the region's history. A brochure highlighting these places and events is available.
Green Country Heritage - Known as "America's Little Switzerland," Green County is at the center of Wisconsin's rich dairy heritage. The county's vibrant blend of European dairy traditions was enhanced by the arrival of Swiss immigrants who brought with them a specialized knowledge of cheese making. By the late 1870s, Green County boasted more than 200 cheese factories. Today, cheese making remains an important facet of the economy and rural way of life in Green County. The Cheese Country Heritage project highlights how the cheese and dairy industries shaped the development of Green County.
Wisconsin's Glacial Landscape

Scholarly Work

Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters - The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters has operated continuously for 130 years as an organization dedicated to scholarly pursuits, the exchange of information, and the convergence of disciplines.
Central Wisconsin Archaeology Center - Serves as a community resource dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage.
The Fight for America
Milwaukie Urban Archives
Wisconsin Archeological Society - Non-profit organization serving the archaeological community primarily through its journal, The Wisconsin Archeologist.
Genealogy in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine
Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit at the Library of Congress
John Muir Exhibit
John Nolen's Madison: A Model City - An imaging project of the General Library System of the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Tour - Site devoted to Frank Lloyd Wright, internationally recognized as the 20th century's greatest architect. A native of Wisconsin, Wright built many buildings here. Sites open to the public include: Taliesin, Hillside Home School and the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center in Spring Green, the SC Johnson Wax Headquarters and Wingspread in Racine, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, the Seth Peterson Cottage near Wisconsin Dells, the A.D. German Warehouse in Richland Center, and the Unitarian Meeting House and Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. Please call or write for a free guide.
26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers
Wisconsin Lineage Links
Wisconsin Profiles
University of Wisconsion--Institute for Research in the Humanities - Housed on the University of Wisconsin campus, the Institute supports research in the traditional humanistic areas of literature, history, and philosophy; it also promotes interdisciplinary scholarship, while cultivating methodological diversity and breadth.
Wisconsin's Ethnic Settlement Trail - The largest concentration of 19th century old-world settlements in America is found along the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan -- Wisconsin's Ethnic Settlement Trail (W.E.S.T.). Tours of this historic area have been designed to showcase the art, architecture, food and customs of various cultures. Each presents a unique opportunity to recreate and sample an element of Wisconsin's past.
Northern Lakes Archaeological Society - Society composed of individuals from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin who share an interest in archaeology and anthropology.
Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association - Dedicated to the study and preservation of Wisconsin's submerged historic resources. Promotes good shipwreck stewardship and training.

Public Programs

Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin Public Television
Wisconsin Department of Tourism

State of Wisconsin Information Server: Badger - Badger is the State of Wisconsin's information server and a starting point to guide you to the many resources available from Wisconsin state agencies, departments and other governmental branches. It also provides links to information resources at the University of Wisconsin campuses, as well as sources from other states and the federal government.
BadgerLink: Library and Information Resrouces for Wisconsin


Education

Wisconsin Electronic Reader - The Wisconsin Electronic Reader lists stories, essays, letters, poems, biographies, journals and other tidbits from Wisconsin history.
Wisconsin Related Internet Resources
University of Wisconsin System
Wisconsin Technical College System - College Listings
Wisconsin's Private Colleges and Universities
Private Post-Secondary Schools
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Public School District Directory & Websites
Wisconsin K-12 Education Sites - The sites are either homed in Wisconsin or have information related to the state in some fashion. Several of the more popular DPI sites are also listed below.