Development of the Railroads
Though the actual construction and operation of railroads did not take place until after Wisconsin became a state, railroads were one of the most widely discussed subjects among territorial officials and businessmen. Seeking to connect the lead mines of the southwest with ships on Lake Michigan, the legislative council of Michigan petitioned Congress to make an appropriation to survey a proposed line from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. Settlements along the Mississippi River competed to be named the western terminus, while Milwaukee fought back competitors from Sheboygan, Green Bay, Racine, Southport, and even Chicago. In the fall of 1836,... more...
Original Documents and Other Primary Sources
| A man recollects the development of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad |
| Descriptions of Wisconsin disasters and catastrophes, 1848-1948 |
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| Folklore and folktales collected by Charles E. Brown |
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| A travel guide to healthful resorts in the upper Midwest, 1875 |
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| A guide to the origins and evolution of Wisconsin's railroads. |
| An Austrian painter depicts Wisconsin in the 1850s |
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| 500 historic pictures of trains and railroads |
| An Austrian painter describes sketches made while traveling Wisconsin, 1856-1860 |
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| The 1857 diary of railroad surveyor Andrew M. Davis. |
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| A German immigrant describes coming to Wisconsin. |
| The first railroad lines are advertised on a map. |
| Four-star accomodations in 19th century Sheboygan County |
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| The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Depot in La Crosse |
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| Plough Inn in Madison |
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| Old Spring Tavern |
Primary Sources Available Elsewhere
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| Andrew M. Davis' 1857 diary as edited for publication. |
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| Wisconsin Blue Books |
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| An 1872 report on a new bridge across the Mississippi |
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| Historic postcards of Milwaukee |
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| A Wisconsin railroad advertises its advantages, 1857 |
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| The Milwaukee and Superior Railroad lines in 1857 |
Related Links
 Discover classroom resources available from our Office of School Services
Ride historic trains at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Visit the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay
Search our catalogs for materials on this topic that aren't yet available online.
Borrow books about this topic through our interlibrary loan service
Borrow manuscripts about this topic through our Area Research Center network.
Learn about other topics from our new book, Wisconsin History Highlights
Read about the history of transportation in the La Crosse River Valley
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