The Library of Congress is a treasure trove of digital files that preserve the history of our country. I spent most of a day combing their files for the very oldest pictures of Wisconsin still in existence and they’re kind of amazing. Most of the pictures day from 1880-1910 and it’s amazing to see how much some places have changed and how some have stayed remarkably the same.
Here are some of the most amazing photos taken in early Wisconsin:
- View of Trempealeau, 1874
Library of Congress The oldest photo I could find that wasn’t just a sitting portrait.
- Entering Green Bay, ca. 1880-1899
Library of Congress Wisconsin’s first city has changed a bit in the ensuing century.
- Devil’s Lake , ca. 1880-1899
Library of Congress With all that’s different in the rest of the pictures, that this view is basically unchanged over 100 years is kind of heartening.
- Pitcher John Freeman on an 1889 cabinet card.
Library of Congress Not quite the same baseball cards you see today.
- Looking out over Eau Claire, ca. 1880-1899.
Library of Congress This could be any town in America at the time and it’s a totally unrecognizable view today.
- White Fish Bay from the pier, ca. 1880-1899.
Library of Congress One of Milwaukee’s most affluent suburbs, Whitefish Bay is spelled different and definitely doesn’t have a pier.
- Paper Mills on the Fox River in Neenah, ca. 1880-1899.
Library of Congress Mills and the paper industry shaped so much of our state.
- Jaws of the Wisconsin Dells in 1894.
Flickr/Snapshots of the past This makes me want to try to get a “now” picture of the same area. Other than some erosion, I’d assume the view hasn’t changed much.
- Girls of the paper mills in Appleton, ca. 1880-1899.
Library of Congress I can’t imagine doing any type of labor in that much clothing.
- The Narrows of the Dells , 1900.
Flickr/SnapshotsofthePast Hard to believe this is now the Waterpark Capitol of the World.
- Milwaukee City Hall ca. 1900
Library of Congress Most of the buildings around it have changed, and the road is now paved, but you could overlay this with a picture of City Hall today and you wouldn’t see too much difference. It’s too easy to overlook the awesome history in our everyday lives.
- Pinckney Street, in Madison, 1901.
Library of Congress One of the four streets that create Capitol Square in Madison.
- President Roosevelt’s Western Tour. In a floral carriage in La Crosse 1903
Library of Congress It’s impossible to imagine a President or any other high ranking official taking on a tour like this one and riding through small towns on a carriage.
- Panorama of the Milwaukee lakefront from Lake Michigan ca 1904
Library of Congress Were it not well labeled, I wouldn’t believe it. Is there anything here to recognize today?
- Horsedrawn delivery carts leave Schlitz Brewery, ca.1900-1919.
Library of Congress The beer that made Milwaukee famous.
- Corner of State and Grand Avenues in Beloit, 1908.
LIbrary of Congress Beloit was a much busier and cosmopolitan town 100 years ago.
- Pabst Building 1900-1915
Library of Congress This building has gone through quite a bit, but renovations turned it into condos and you can still see it near MSOE.
Looking for more Wisconsin history? Check out These 13 Hidden Gems In Wisconsin Hold Historic Keys To The Past.
Library of Congress
The oldest photo I could find that wasn’t just a sitting portrait.
Wisconsin’s first city has changed a bit in the ensuing century.
With all that’s different in the rest of the pictures, that this view is basically unchanged over 100 years is kind of heartening.
Not quite the same baseball cards you see today.
This could be any town in America at the time and it’s a totally unrecognizable view today.
One of Milwaukee’s most affluent suburbs, Whitefish Bay is spelled different and definitely doesn’t have a pier.
Mills and the paper industry shaped so much of our state.
Flickr/Snapshots of the past
This makes me want to try to get a “now” picture of the same area. Other than some erosion, I’d assume the view hasn’t changed much.
I can’t imagine doing any type of labor in that much clothing.
Flickr/SnapshotsofthePast
Hard to believe this is now the Waterpark Capitol of the World.
Most of the buildings around it have changed, and the road is now paved, but you could overlay this with a picture of City Hall today and you wouldn’t see too much difference. It’s too easy to overlook the awesome history in our everyday lives.
One of the four streets that create Capitol Square in Madison.
It’s impossible to imagine a President or any other high ranking official taking on a tour like this one and riding through small towns on a carriage.
Were it not well labeled, I wouldn’t believe it. Is there anything here to recognize today?
The beer that made Milwaukee famous.
LIbrary of Congress
Beloit was a much busier and cosmopolitan town 100 years ago.
This building has gone through quite a bit, but renovations turned it into condos and you can still see it near MSOE.
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