Rev. 09-08

Wisconsin

Fox River System

Down the Not So Lazy River
An article describing commercial steamboat operations along the river between 1843 and 1900, including reference to the navigation system. Historical photo.

Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement Company
A brief history of the navigation system.

Fox River
A brief history of the navigation system.

Fox River - Wisconsin
A description and history of the river, including reference to its navigation system.

Fox River Canal and Water Power History
A series of articles and historical photos of the navigation system and its role in supporting development of industries along the river.

Fox Valley Memory
Historical photos of the river, including some of its navigation system.

Fox Valley Turning Points
A brief history of the navigation and water power system.

Fox-Wisconsin Waterway
A description and history of the waterway and navigation system. Maps, historical photos and links to related sites.

Menasha Lock
A brief history of the waterway. Current photo.

Upper and Lower Combined Lock
A brief history of the waterway. Current photo.

What is the History of Little Chute, Wisconsin?
A brief history of the community, including reference to the canal system.


Milwaukee and River Rock Canal

Citizen Scientist
A brief biography of Increase Lapham and his contributions to the construction of several U.S. canals, including the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal.

Developers Try to Dig a Water Route to the Lead Region in the 1830s
Exerpts of a book documenting the history of the canal, edited by Increase Lapham.

Increase Lapham
An exerpt from "Wisconsin Geography and Topography", including a description of the canal in the Milwaukee area.
 

Later Development Along the River
A brief description of the industries utilizing the one mile of the canal that was actually completed.

Plat of the Milwaukee and River Rock Canal
Map of the proposed canal, prepared by Increase Lapham.

Portage Canal

Main Street Portage
A brief history of the canal and historical photos.

City of Portage - Portage Canal
A brief history of the canal, including historical and current photos.

Portage Canal
A brief history of the canal, from Wikipedia.

Portage Canal
Historical and current photos of the canal.

Portage Canal Map
Map of the canal and current photos.

Portage Canal Society
History of the canal between the Wisconsin and the Fox Rivers, historical and current photographs, map, links to additional documents and related web sites.

The Fate of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers Improvement Company
1903 article about the unsuccessful efforts to link the Great Lakes and Mississippi River with Wisconsin canals.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal

An 1870 proposal to build a canal at Sturgeon Bay
This four page pamphlet proposes the construction of a canal at Sturgeon Bay.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
Map, description, history and links to related sites, from Wikipedia.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
Historical sigmificance and physical description of the canal.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal
1878 New York Times article about the opening of the canal.

Sturgeon Bay Canal Light & Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light
History and current photos of the lighthouses protecting the canal. Links to related sites.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Light
History of the canal and lighthouse, including historical and current photos and links to related sites.


Yahara River System

Tenny Park Canal
Historical and current photos of the Yahara River outlet of Lake Mendota.


General

Ambitious plan for major network of canals was ditched
A brief history of Wisconsin's flirtation with canals.

Great Lakes Steamships and Canals
A brief history of efforts to develop canals to solve the internal transportation needs of the new state. Links to related sites.

Wisconsin Historical Images
Historical photographs of Wisconsin canals.