Wisconsin

Make yourself at home in Wisconsin history. Build a frame with timber from an Oshkosh logging trail. Borrow that Door County rooftop with the grazing goats. Attach a brightly painted barn stuffed with the bounty of the St. Croix Valley. Smuggle in a back porch from a Geneva Lake lodge, right under the noses of Milwaukee mobsters vacationing there. Flip on the television just as Brett Favre slips a tackle to complete an impossible pass. Settle down for the long haul with our Wisconsin history books. [View all Wisconsin books]

260 products

Sort

Cudahy

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Kenosha's Jeffery & Rambler Automobiles

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Schroeder's Department Store

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Green Bay Packers

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Big Safe

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Finding Dairyland

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Ghostly Tales of Baraboo

$12.99 $9.74 Save 25%

The Milwaukee Mile

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Milwaukee Rock and Roll

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

La Crosse

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Haunted Racine

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Two Rivers

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Waupaca Chain o' Lakes

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Maritime Manitowoc

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Kenosha on the Go

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Horicon and Horicon Marsh

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Racine

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

World War II Milwaukee

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Watertown, Wisconsin

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Oak Creek, Wisconsin

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

German Milwaukee

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Guarding Door County

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Phelps and Conover

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Manitowoc

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Stevens Point Brewing Company

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Brewing in Milwaukee

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Oshkosh

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Milwaukee Jazz

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Germans in Milwaukee

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Hidden History of the Wisconsin Dells Area

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Wisconsin Farm Lore

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

Poy Sippi and Eastern Waushara County

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Forgotten Tales of Wisconsin

$14.99 $11.24 Save 25%

Madison:

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Previous 1 2 3 4 … 8 Next

Cudahy

9780738519487

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In 1892, the Cudahy Brothers Company gave birth to the origins of Cudahy, Wisconsin, now a thriving, industrial city just south of Milwaukee. Patrick Cudahy chose to build his meat packing plant on the 700 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan because of its proximity to both water and the railroad. Bolstered by Cudahy's endeavor, the Ponto Hotel and a new train depot were built, attracting more settlers and business until the City of Cudahy was officially incorporated in 1906.

Through the medium of historic photographs, Cudahy, Wisconsin: Generations of Pride captures Cudahy's evolution from the late 1800s to the present day. Featuring over 200 historic images from both the Cudahy Historical Society and Public Library as well as photographs from private resident collections, this book tells the stories of the people who settled there: where they worked and worshiped, how they lived, and how they celebrated. Today, Cudahy is in the midst of downtown redevelopment, and community pride continues to grow with each generation.

Kenosha's Jeffery & Rambler Automobiles

9781467128643

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Thomas B. Jeffery Company existed as an automobile maker from 1902 to 1916 and in that short span created a corporate foundation that would lead to successor firms Nash Motors, Nash-Kelvinator, American Motors, and Jeep. Thomas Jeffery named his automobile the Rambler, after the popular bicycles he manufactured prior to his car venture. The Rambler was a car of outstanding quality and reliability. From its first showing in Chicago in 1902, the Rambler stood out as an unusual value for the money. That reputation carried over when Tom Jeffery's son and successor Charles decided to change the car's name to Jeffery in honor of his late father. In 1916, Charles Nash, then president of General Motors, resigned his position and purchased the Thomas B. Jeffery firm, renaming it the Nash Motors Company. Before long, an all-new Nash car was introduced, and the Jeffery brand faded away. Nash went on to become one of the largest of the American independent automakers.

Schroeder's Department Store

9781467128988

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

With financial help from his father, Peter Joseph Schroeder, Peter Schroeder opened a small dry goods business in 1891 at the southeast corner of Eighteenth and Washington Streets in the B. Mayer Building. Over the next five years, his brothers Joseph, John, and Frank joined the operation. In 1899, business was flourishing. The current three-story building was constructed at the northwest corner of Seventeenth and Washington Streets, and the store became a physical anchor in the downtown business district. The Schroeders believe in giving back to the community they call home. Over four generations, the Schroeders and their spouses donated more than 5,000 hours to various civic organizations in Two Rivers. Many changes have taken place at Schroeder's in its 126-year history. Today's store offers a full line of men's and women's apparel and footwear, as well as a coffeehouse and alterations. Schroeder's also leases space to a toy shop, yarn shop, quilt shop, and gift shop.

Green Bay Packers

9780738539607

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Their football legacy is second to none--12 NFL Championships, 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, and names like Lombardi, Lambeau, and Favre, synonymous with a winning tradition. In a time when big money and television markets dictate escalating player salaries and franchise relocations, the Green Bay Packers continue to succeed as a professional sports anomaly. While surviving certain bankruptcy, enduring numerous seasons of mediocrity, and playing in the smallest market of any major sports team in America, the Green Bay Packers have risen to the top to be recognized as one of the greatest franchises in sports history. Green Bay Packers: Legends in Green and Gold chronicles the team's phenomenal successes, heartbreaking letdowns, and legendary moments, beginning with an inauspicious inception in 1919 through the Super Bowl XXXI victory over the New England Patriots in 1997.

Big Safe

9781467156639

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Some say it was the biggest theft in American history. Maybe it was.

The multimillion-dollar burglary at eccentric gambler LaVere Redfield’s Reno mansion was an endless comedy of errors. A target who hides from cameras and gets embarrassed for his dog. A failed songwriter “mastermind” who can’t keep her mouth shut. A safecracker who can’t pick a lock. And a convicted killer who allows his ill-gotten gains to be stolen while his pants are down. In almost every way, the 1952 Reno Heist is a study in how not to commit a crime, which is likely why the case lives on in infamy.

Historian Gavin Schmitt unfolds the notorious misadventures of bumbling crooks, shady casino owners and femme fatales.

Finding Dairyland

9781467148894

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Explore America's Dairyland and the American Spirit

At the dawn of World War II, Wisconsin was home to nearly 200,000 dairy farms. Today, barely 6,000 remain. The ghosts of the missing can still be seen in withering old farms along lonely highways, some restored, many abandoned or decayed, but all with a story to tell. Immigrants dreamed of owning their own farms, only to be fleeced by the promotion of "cutover'? lands in the Northwoods. Freedmen and women arrived in southwestern Wisconsin and became farmers and renowned barn-builders in one of the earliest integrated communities in the nation.

Through hundreds of hours of site visits, interviews, and research, historian and photographer, Scott Wittman extracts the forgotten truths from legend to tell the real stories of those who created The Dairy State.

The Ghostly Tales of Baraboo

9781467198622

$12.99 $9.74 Save 25%

Ghost stories from Circus City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Baraboo comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the Old Baraboo Inn to catch a glimpse of the spirits who checked in but never checked out. Or take a drive down the infamous Highway 12, but keep your eye out for the road’s very own spectral hitchhiker. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

The Milwaukee Mile

9781467114226

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Speed has always been the Milwaukee Mile's hallmark, and the one-mile oval track has given race fans and drivers thrills, chills, and memories for 130 years. "The Mile," once a proving ground for the latest in mechanical engineering, has seen it all: from harness racing to endurance races, NASCAR, midgets, sprints, and Indy open wheel. The checkered flag has waved at the Mile for greats such as Barney Oldfield, Rex Mays, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti, as well as a new generation of drivers, including Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and Will Power. The infield saw its share of action, too, including circus acts under the big top and Green Bay Packers games.

Milwaukee Rock and Roll

9781467112505

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The history of rock music in Milwaukee began at an age when some musicians played in a segregated part of the city. At the same time, a young singer named Buddy Holly kicked off a tour that ended with a plane crash in Iowa 11 days later. The following years brought the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the rest of the British Invasion. In the late 1960s came acid rock, civil unrest, and Summerfest, a music festival that continues to this day. Milwaukee has had its moments in the spotlight: Bob Dylan left the stage after two songs in 1964, Bruce Springsteen's 1975 concert was delayed for hours while police searched for a bomb in the theater, hundreds of Black Sabbath fans rioted after a 1980 show, and the Plasmatics' Wendy O. Williams was beaten by police in 1981. And then there was the helicopter crash in which blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn perished.

La Crosse

9781467113328

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

La Crosse is situated between the Mississippi River and the picturesque bluffs of the Driftless Area. Founded in the 1840s, La Crosse's location at the intersection of three rivers attracted entrepreneurs. Fertile farmlands, scenic coulees, and prosperous industries enticed adventurous East Coasters and immigrants to settle in the area. From the 1850s to early 1900s, a boomtown atmosphere shaped the city's culture and fueled the construction of a distinctive downtown--much of which remains standing today.

Haunted Racine

9781467150781

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Like so many cities bordering Lake Michigan, Racine has a long and storied history. Some of that history is stranger than fiction.

The Live Towerview neighborhood, brimming with stories of the city's earliest burial sites, is a hotbed of ghostly activity. Former asylums like the ambitious Taylor Home Orphan Asylum and the infamous Racine County Insane Asylum are filled with chilling tales of the unexplained. The local Masonic Temple houses the restless souls of some of the city's earliest residents. So do Chances Food & Spirits and Ivanhoe, two of the most haunted taverns in southeastern Wisconsin. Historian Rory Graves uncovers some of Racine's most notorious haunts.

Historian Rory Graves uncovers some of Racine's most notorious haunts.

Two Rivers

9780738588711

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The heritage of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, is shaped by water but has rapidly developed into a woodenware manufacturer of world significance.

The heritage of Two Rivers has been shaped by water. The rare conjunction of Lake Michigan with a dual river system compelled the Potawatomi and Menominee as well as the first American settlers. People of the First Nations plied the lake and rivers in search of whitefish, while initial American settlers sought fish and timber and appreciated the commercial potential of the harbor.

As the years went on, Two Rivers quickly grew into a woodenware manufacturer of world significance. When native forests diminished, the community demonstrated patterns typical of a small American town. Businesses, schools, churches and public services grew and thrived. Through periods of growth, decline, and stability, the lake and the rivers have given the community its distinctiveness. Located on a small peninsula almost 90 miles north of Milwaukee, Two Rivers's climate has also earned it a reputation as ""the coolest spot in Wisconsin.""

The Waupaca Chain o' Lakes

9781467104319

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Waupaca Chain o' Lakes are a series of 22 interconnected spring-fed lakes in central Wisconsin. The lakes' crystal clear waters, steep tree-covered banks, and other unique natural properties have long attracted people to their shores, starting with the pre-Columbian mound builders and Menominee Indians. European American settlers realized the lakes' potential for recreation in the 1870s and transformed the Chain o' Lakes and nearby city of Waupaca into major vacation destinations for tourists from all over the United States. Numerous businesses and attractions delighted vacationers throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, including beautiful resort hotels, rustic inns and cottages, religious camps and retreats, family-run restaurants and shops, marinas, tour boats, natural areas, theme parks, the Wisconsin Veterans Home, and even an interurban railway. Thousands of people, especially families, still enjoy the Chain o' Lakes today.

Maritime Manitowoc

9780738540023

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

From schooners to submarines, Manitowoc has been home to shipbuilders and their craft for over 200 years. Thanks to the vast collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Maritime Manitowoc: 1847-1947 uncovers the fascinating and colorful Golden Age of shipbuilding in the area. This book explores the remarkable history of Manitowoc's shipyards and the magnificent ships that were built there. These ships have sailed the Great Lakes as well as open oceans across the world.

Kenosha on the Go

9780738550985

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Kenosha on the Go chronicles 110 years of transportation in Kenosha. From the first interurban streetcar that reached Kenosha's northern city limits in 1897 to the existing transit system in 2007, this book covers local streetcar operations, trackless trolley and bus operations, the two electric interurbans that served Kenosha, and the North Western Railway. Kenosha on the Go also brings readers to the rebirth of streetcar operations in Kenosha at the dawn of the 21st century.

Horicon and Horicon Marsh

9780738561356

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The city of Horicon has grown beyond its mill town roots to become home to John Deere, Gardner Manufacturing, and many community events. Meanwhile, Horicon Marsh has loomed to the north with its own story to tell. Over the years, what was once the land of the Winnebagos has been flooded, drained, dredged, and farmed. However, thanks to a restoration movement that began in the 1920s, Horicon Marsh stands today as the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

Racine

9780738550626

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In November 1834, Capt. Gilbert Knapp staked a claim to 141 acres at the mouth of the Root River, naming it Port Gilbert. This site became the city of Racine.

During the pioneer years, Racine was dubbed "the Belle City" of the Great Lakes (from the French word belle, meaning "beautiful"). The growth of this beautiful city and its harbor was captured in vintage postcards at a time when people sent little notes and messages to friends and family the way people use e-mail and cell phones today. These cards are like vignettes showing the changes that have taken place since one century ago - a pictorial documentation of Racine preserved for future generations to enjoy.

World War II Milwaukee

9781467117623

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Long before Japanese bombs rained down on Pearl Harbor, Milwaukee was the "Machine Shop to the World." Thanks to the city's large industrial base, factories quickly retooled and mobilized for wartime production. Harley-Davidson produced thousands of military motorbikes, and Falk Corporation churned out gears that turned the propellers on hundreds of ships. Locals sacrificed their lives for the cause--Mayor Carl Zeidler went missing at sea, USS Arizona captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh refused to leave the bridge of his burning battleship and Mildred Harnack joined the Nazi resistance movement and was executed on direct orders from Hitler. Embedded with German and American troops, Milwaukee journalists H.V. Kaltenborn, Louis Lochner and Dickey Chapelle sent dispatches from the front lines. Through past interviews and archival materials, author Meg Jones reveals these and other patriotic stories.

Watertown, Wisconsin

9780738507699

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Watertown, Wisconsin, nestled in the southeastern part of the state between the largest city, Milwaukee, and the state capital, Madison, was once considered the second largest city in Wisconsin. Founded in 1836 by Yankee settlers from the East coast, these individuals were soon joined by Irish and German immigrants who contributed to Watertown's unique cultural and ethnic make-up. The town was granted a village charter by 1849 and became a city in 1853. Watertown, Wisconsin: 1836-1936, explores this exciting era of growth and expansion in the city's first one hundred years. From the arrival of the stage line in 1844 to the new ideas and inventions presented in the twentieth century, the reader is able to gain insight into the development of this wonderful community. However, amidst all of this change, there is one thing that has remained constant--the people. Within the pages of this book, the lives of the residents of Watertown are represented through the images and the text, thus bringing to life the rich history of this community.

Oak Creek, Wisconsin

9780738549231

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is a close-knit community with a long tradition of farming. Authors Anita and Larry Rowe have compiled this volume of photographs from the Oak Creek Historical Society, CNI newspapers, and many longtime residents to trace the history of Oak Creek from the turn of the century, when the community was mostly farmland, to its incorporation as a city in the 1950s. With this glimpse into Oak Creek's past, residents of all ages will delight in discovering the unique heritage of this city in southeastern Wisconsin. The images featured, many of which have never before been published, offer rare views into the daily lives of the area's early settlers at work and at play. Family histories, Oak Creek's struggle for an independent identity outside of the city of Milwaukee, the stories behind the historic buildings at the Oak Creek Historical Museum, and the colorful past of the city's taverns are all brought to life in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

German Milwaukee

9780738560373

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

German immigrants are responsible for making the great town of Milwaukee what it is today.

German immigrants began arriving to Milwaukee in the 1830s. By 1859, over one-third of the city was German. They opened schools and churches, started businesses, ran for office, and introduced professional German theater, art, and music to the city. Milwaukee soon became known throughout the United States--and even abroad--as the ""German Athens of North America."" There is a reason Milwaukee is known as the city of beer and brats, why it is here that the biggest Germanfest in the country takes place, and why still today the German language can be seen and heard throughout the city. As the well-known German newspaper the Frankfurter Allgemeine stated in 2008, ""Deutscher als Milwaukee ist nirgendwo in Amerika"" (There is nowhere in America more German than in Milwaukee).

Guarding Door County

9780738534237

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Jutting out of Wisconsin into the blue waters of Lake Michigan, the scenic peninsula of Door County is endowed with the longest coastline of any county in the nation. Since the mid-1800s, the region has boasted a strong maritime industry, dependent on the constant vigilance and efforts of U.S. Coast Guard units. The county has been home to as many as 12 historic light stations, as well as three life-saving stations. Beginning with Pottawatomie Light in 1837 and Sturgeon Bay Canal Life-Saving Station in 1886, keepers and surfmen survived both boredom and peril to ensure safe navigation and commerce, while rescuing those in distress. Through archival photographs, stories of
shipwrecks, rescues, service, and pride spring to life. Rare rescue images of the Otter, a schooner which wrecked in 1895, are especially noteworthy.

Phelps and Conover

9781467106375

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Nestled in the wooded forests, rolling hills, and lakes of the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest lie the towns of Phelps and Conover. Dating back to the Ojibwa, this region was noted for its dense forests, relying on the many rivers and lakes as the highway for travel until the introduction of the railroad and roadways in the late 1800s. By 1900, businessmen Hackley, Phelps, and Bonnell had journeyed from Chicago, landing in what would later be named Phelps, with prospects of a mill and a community. Shortly thereafter, Conover would take its name from Seth Conover. Conover, a prominent cheese buyer, would inspire the construction of a train station in the very location he traveled to for several years to follow his passion for hunting and fishing. Surrounded by some of the greatest recreational and fishing lakes as well as the mill and lumber industry, the towns of Conover and Phelps continued to flourish. The railroad bustled tourists from the cities to enjoy a piece of the serenity that continues to reside in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Manitowoc

9781467111478

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Founded as a city in March 1870, Manitowoc was a thriving farming and port community with a diverse population of German, Irish, Polish, and Norwegian immigrants that grew into a manufacturing center on the Great Lakes and a picturesque home to generations of hardworking people. Vintage images highlight the people, businesses, and industries that make its fascinating and rich history. From pioneers and civic institutions, to the shops and factories that powered the local economy, to how everyday people worked and relaxed, Images of America: Manitowoc details over a century of memories and milestones through rarely seen archival photographs and a richly textured historical narrative.

Stevens Point Brewing Company

9781467104029

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

The history of the Stevens Point Brewery tells the history of Stevens Point itself. The city's identity is tied so closely to its brewery that they are considered synonymous. Indeed, the Stevens Point Brewery predates the incorporation of the city by one year. The lumber boom brought thousands of people to Stevens Point, and two enterprising German immigrants sought to make sure those pioneers would have a quality beer to call their own. The loyalty of the local residents kept the brewery afloat through the dark days of Prohibition and through the 1960s as small, regional breweries were closing due to mass consolidation. Community members have always made sure that theirs would not follow suit. The Stevens Point Brewery will forever be tied to its locale through more than just its name.

Brewing in Milwaukee

9781467110952

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Drink up the history of one of the most famous beer towns in the world.

Milwaukee is most famous for its booming brewing industry, which is directly tied to a surge in German immigration in the 1840s. These new citizens brought along their work ethic, culture, and a love for their native beverage. Not all immigrants arrived from Europe; many, like Richard Owens, came from Britain. Owens has been credited with establishing the first commercial brewery in the area in 1840. Other men followed, many of whom were already experienced in brewing, and seized the opportunity to start new businesses. Brand names were carved on the front of brewery buildings, deals were made with a handshake, partnerships were cultivated, and factory cities were raised. By 1860, nearly 200 breweries were in operation in Wisconsin, with more than 40 in Milwaukee alone. Of the original 40, four have stood the test of time: Blatz, Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller are still brewed in Milwaukee, right where they were born.

Oshkosh

9781467105224

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Named after Chief Oshkosh in 1839, Oshkosh became an established city in 1853. In its early days, Oshkosh was Wisconsin's second-largest city and the lumber capital of the world. Along with familiar Main Street views, the postcard images in this book reveal Oshkosh's forgotten sites of the past such as Electric Park, Alexian Brothers Hospital, and Northern Hospital Zoo. Many of the city's iconic sites that still stand today are also featured, including the Oshkosh Public Library, the Grand Opera House, and the Oshkosh Public Museum. This postcard collection presents a unique historical record of Oshkosh.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin

9780738507736

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Mineral Point, Wisconsin, recounts the changing fortunes of a once rough-and-ready mining town of the 1820s. Featuring historic photographs from the collection of the Mineral Point Historical Society and Pendarvis-Wisconsin State Historic Site-an exciting history unfolds in these pages, with the arrival of miners from the fledgling United States in the 1820s in search of lead. When the demand for lead collapsed, Mineral Point shifted its focus to the mining of zinc, only to have that market drop after World War I. Mineral Point was reawakened in the 1930s with the influx of artists and others, like Edgar Hellum and Robert Neal, who were interested in historic preservation. The town has transformed itself once again, becoming a vibrant artistic, historic, and architectural center. In 1971, it became the first Wisconsin community to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, with 514 contributing buildings. This fascinating pictorial history celebrates the people of Mineral Point-the early American settlers from Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, and the Cornish, German, Irish, and Italian immigrants. Mineral Point, Wisconsin, also features their legacy-their homes, businesses, schools, and organizations. These historic photos provide glimpses of the extensive zinc works that no longer exist, as well as many of the buildings still standing in the town today.

Milwaukee Jazz

9781467103107

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Milwaukee's jazz scene has forever stood in the shadow of Chicago's illustrious institution, but it stands strong. Cream City has produced a wealth of talent, attracted top-notch transplants, and hosted legends like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Billie Holiday, and Wynton Marsalis. From the heyday of the 1940s and 1950s to the renaissance of the 1970s, from the streets to the classrooms, from grand ballrooms to outdoor festivals, from swing to bebop, from smoky bars to dimly lit clubs like the Flame, Thelma's Back Door, and the Jazz Gallery, Milwaukee has been a hotbed of improvised music, providing a noteworthy contribution to the story of jazz in America.

Germans in Milwaukee

9781467147286

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Germans in Milwaukee: A Neighborhood History chronicles the stories behind the German footprints in the city.

Like no other large American city, Germans dominated Milwaukee. Their presence inhabits the city's neighborhoods from its buildings and place names to its parklands and statuary. Their influence also lives in the memories shared by local residents. A small Milwaukee neighborhood south of Miller Valley was christened after a farmer's pigs, and a busboy turned beer baron built the famous Pabst Brewery in West Town. A ghost is said to haunt the old Blatz Brewing compound. And the remains of the early tanning industry can still be seen in Walker's Point.

Compiling over 1,200 interviews through their organization, Urban Anthropology Inc., authors Jill Lackey and Richard Petrie share these ground-level perspectives of the lasting German influence on the Cream City.

Hidden History of the Wisconsin Dells Area

9781609490317

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The history of the Wisconsin Dells area is as unique as its glacier-sculpted landscape. It has been a gathering place for tribal councils, a vacation spot for enthralled tourists and a stopping point for the raftsmen who might have had a little too much of the Devil's Eyewater" brewed by pioneer Robert Allen. Local expert Ross M. Curry has been chronicling the region, from Baraboo to Lyndon, for almost sixty years. Join him for those chapters of the area's story that he himself has witnessed, and then follow him as he hikes back to a time before the Kilbourn Dam, when towns were lit by gaslight, justice might be enforced by duels or "necktie parties" and hardships had to be outlasted by tightknit families with unshakable faith and their own butter churns."

Wisconsin Farm Lore

9781609495381

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

It's well nigh impossible to break into Wisconsin's history without picking up some respectable dirt in the way of farm lore, country wisdom and undisputed records of agricultural prowess. And when it comes to the Badger State, few people are as familiar with the soil of its stories as Martin Hintz. In his company, tramp across cranberry bogs, study centuries of beer and cheese pairings and give an affectionate thump to a 1, 810.5-pound pumpkin. Discover variety beyond crops and livestock and share in the dedication that planted victory gardens during World War II and the unadulterated joy of sliding down a straw pile in threshing season.

Poy Sippi and Eastern Waushara County

9780738540115

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

In the early stages of Wisconsin's statehood, Vermonters settled in an area in east-central Wisconsin. Poy Sippi is a fine example of the pioneers' thirst for adventure, exploration, and hard work ethic. The lakes, creeks, and swamps did not impede this thirst. A small town nestled between two hills, Poy Sippi reminded the settlers of their eastern homes. The interaction of families within the neighboring communities brought about strong bonds and the development of eastern Waushara County. This is their story, told through vintage photographs.

Forgotten Tales of Wisconsin

9781596298729

$14.99 $11.24 Save 25%

Drift back to an era when the speed limit in Milwaukee was an edgy four miles per hour and Madison lawmakers could poke at hogs to punctuate the tedium of legislative sessions. Martin Hintz makes even the slow times of the Badger State fly by in this collection of Wisconsin's forgotten memories. Taste the world's first batch of pink lemonade (made with the dye of a circus performer's pants) and witness the tragic death of the world's last wild passenger pigeon. Track down ancient Algonkin legends like the great serpent that swam up the Mississippi looking for copper, and drop in on modern legends like Les Paul, whose guitar spun records into gold.

Madison:

9781596291218

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Beginning with the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier and the story of early Native American peoples, Janik narrates the journey of Wisconsin's capital city from the center of the wilderness"? to the "Laboratory of Democracy."? Learn how Madison's citizens responded to the Civil War, industrialization and two world wars, as well as how advances in the rights of workers, women, Native Americans and African Americans made Madison the multifaceted city it is today. Comprehensive, accessible and swift, Madison: History of a Model City offers a fresh take on how Madison and its people came into being."