The 19th-century logging industry reshaped the landscape of central and northern Wisconsin, provided a livelihood for thousands of workers, and formed the roots of today's thriving paper industry. By the late nineteenth century, Wisconsin was one of the premier lumber producing states in the U.S., and from 1890 to 1910 forest products led Wisconsin's developing industrial economy.
Despite its obvious potential, logging was only a minor activity for the first white settlers, who actually brought lumber with them from the East at great expense. Throughout most of the 1830s, logging was carried out on a small scale around Prairie du... more...
![Link to article: The development of the lumber industry in Western Wisconsin](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The development of the lumber industry in Western Wisconsin |
![Link to article: A lumberjack describes living conditions in lumber camps in the 1850s](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A lumberjack describes living conditions in lumber camps in the 1850s |
![Link to article: Peshtigo residents look back, 50 years after the Great Fire](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Peshtigo residents look back, 50 years after the Great Fire |
![Link to article: Rafting lumber down the Wisconsin River in 1849](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Rafting lumber down the Wisconsin River in 1849 |
![Link to article: A rafting trip down the Wisconsin River in 1868](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A rafting trip down the Wisconsin River in 1868 |
![Link to article: A lumberjack recalls an 1898 forest fire](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A lumberjack recalls an 1898 forest fire |
![Link to article: Community-building in the northern forest in the 1880s.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Community-building in the northern forest in the 1880s. |
![Link to article: Peshtigo's priest recalls surviving the fire](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Peshtigo's priest recalls surviving the fire |
![Link to article: Lumberjack tales of Paul Bunyan](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Lumberjack tales of Paul Bunyan |
![Link to article: Recollections of Old Superior](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of Old Superior |
![Link to article: A Made-to-Order Farm to lure settlers northward, 1921](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Made-to-Order Farm to lure settlers northward, 1921 |
![Link to article: An 1886 visit to the Menominee community of Keshena](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An 1886 visit to the Menominee community of Keshena |
![Link to article: Recollections of logging the Chippewa Valley, 1844-1916.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of logging the Chippewa Valley, 1844-1916. |
![Link to article: More than 100 articles on logging and the lumber industry](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | More than 100 articles on logging and the lumber industry |
![Link to artifacts: A mid-1800s birchbark maple sugar container](/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | A mid-1800s birchbark maple sugar container |
![Link to book: The history and traditions of the Chippewa Valley](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | The history and traditions of the Chippewa Valley |
![Link to book: The marvelous exploits of Paul Bunyan](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | The marvelous exploits of Paul Bunyan |
![Link to book: The wild animals of Paul Bunyan's Northwoods](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | The wild animals of Paul Bunyan's Northwoods |
![Link to book: Wisconsin's earliest forest conservation plea, 1867](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Wisconsin's earliest forest conservation plea, 1867 |
![Link to book: An 1875 history of the Chippewa Valley](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An 1875 history of the Chippewa Valley |
![Link to book: Memoirs of an Interpreter among the Ojibwe, 1840-1900](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Memoirs of an Interpreter among the Ojibwe, 1840-1900 |
![Link to book: Folklore and folktales collected by Charles E. Brown](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Folklore and folktales collected by Charles E. Brown |
![Link to book: A Guide to CCC Camps in Wisconsin, 1937](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Guide to CCC Camps in Wisconsin, 1937 |
![Link to book: Descriptions of Wisconsin disasters and catastrophes, 1848-1948](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Descriptions of Wisconsin disasters and catastrophes, 1848-1948 |
![Link to book: Stockbridge and Munsee Testimony, 1892](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Stockbridge and Munsee Testimony, 1892 |
![Link to book: Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1976-1985)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1976-1985) |
![Link to book: Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1986-1995)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1986-1995) |
![Link to book: Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1996-2006)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Proceedings of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (1996-2006) |
![Link to book: A guide to the Great Lakes lumber industry, 1886](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A guide to the Great Lakes lumber industry, 1886 |
![Link to book: Report on the Menominee at Termination, 1958](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Report on the Menominee at Termination, 1958 |
![Link to images: Life in the logging camps, as shown in historic photographs.](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Life in the logging camps, as shown in historic photographs. |
![Link to images: Prairie du Chien merchant and judge James H. Lockwood, 1856.](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Prairie du Chien merchant and judge James H. Lockwood, 1856. |
![Link to images: An advertisement tries to attract settlers to the cutover region.](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | An advertisement tries to attract settlers to the cutover region. |
![Link to images: Pictures of the cutover lands in northern Wisconsin](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Pictures of the cutover lands in northern Wisconsin |
![Link to images: Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868 |
![Link to manuscript: John Deitz makes his case, 1906](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | John Deitz makes his case, 1906 |
![Link to manuscript: The lumber company makes its case against Deitz, 1906](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | The lumber company makes its case against Deitz, 1906 |