The first quarter of the nineteenth century was marked by westward migration into the regions north and west of the Ohio River. Though Wisconsin was initially a distant frontier, the small numbers of French, English, Americans, and American Indians who resided there had nonetheless explored and used the rich land and water resources that would soon bring thousands of immigrants into Wisconsin.
Prior to the Black Hawk War in 1832, Indians primarily inhabited much of Wisconsin. By the mid nineteenth century, though, Indians had been induced to cede most of their lands to the federal government. Some were relocated west of... more...
![Link to article: The first German women to settle in Milwaukee.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The first German women to settle in Milwaukee. |
![Link to article: The first Norwegian immigrants are recalled.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The first Norwegian immigrants are recalled. |
![Link to article: Madison's Italian community in the early 20th century](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Madison's Italian community in the early 20th century |
![Link to article: A Polish immigrant recalls coming to Milwaukee as a boy in 1868](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Polish immigrant recalls coming to Milwaukee as a boy in 1868 |
![Link to article: A Connecticut Yankee writes home about Wisconsin's virtues in 1847.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Connecticut Yankee writes home about Wisconsin's virtues in 1847. |
![Link to article: A real-life "Little House" girlhood in Waupaca County.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A real-life "Little House" girlhood in Waupaca County. |
![Link to article: Carl Schurz describes why he settled in Wisconsin.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Carl Schurz describes why he settled in Wisconsin. |
![Link to article: Recollections of Old Superior](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of Old Superior |
![Link to article: Milwaukee's Irish neighborhood in the 19th century](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Milwaukee's Irish neighborhood in the 19th century |
![Link to article: Theodore Rodolf recounts his life in the lead region in the 1830s](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Theodore Rodolf recounts his life in the lead region in the 1830s |
![Link to article: The character and activities of Bohemian immigrants, 1901](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The character and activities of Bohemian immigrants, 1901 |
![Link to article: A description of the early Polish immigrants to Wisconsin, 1901](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A description of the early Polish immigrants to Wisconsin, 1901 |
![Link to article: Fifty years of Polish settlement in Portage County, 1857-1907](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Fifty years of Polish settlement in Portage County, 1857-1907 |
![Link to article: Czech immigrants settle in Langlade County in the 1880s](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Czech immigrants settle in Langlade County in the 1880s |
![Link to article: A Polish couple braves the loneliness to settle Pike Lake](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Polish couple braves the loneliness to settle Pike Lake |
![Link to article: The history and settlement of Langlade County](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The history and settlement of Langlade County |
![Link to article: A little bit of Italy in Vernon County](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A little bit of Italy in Vernon County |
![Link to article: The early Jewish history of LaCrosse](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The early Jewish history of LaCrosse |
![Link to article: Milwaukee's 19th-c. Jewish neighborhood recollected](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Milwaukee's 19th-c. Jewish neighborhood recollected |
![Link to article: The roots of Milwaukee's Jewish community in the mid-19th century](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The roots of Milwaukee's Jewish community in the mid-19th century |
![Link to article: An overview of Polish immigration through 1896](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An overview of Polish immigration through 1896 |
![Link to article: Recollections of Wisconsin slaves by pioneer settlers.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of Wisconsin slaves by pioneer settlers. |
![Link to article: Early History of the Brothertown Indians](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Early History of the Brothertown Indians |
![Link to article: A Yankee Childhood in Dodge County](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Yankee Childhood in Dodge County |
![Link to article: An Immigrant Who Became a Northwoods Missionary](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An Immigrant Who Became a Northwoods Missionary |
![Link to artifacts: Rosemaled Norwegian Immigrant Trunk, 1845](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | Rosemaled Norwegian Immigrant Trunk, 1845 |
![Link to artifacts: The oldest toast in Wisconsin](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | The oldest toast in Wisconsin |
![Link to artifacts: A Norwegian trinket box](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | A Norwegian trinket box |
![Link to artifacts: Two sausage stuffers](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | Two sausage stuffers |
![Link to artifacts: A costume from a Racine Purim carnival](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | A costume from a Racine Purim carnival |
![Link to artifacts: A traditional Ukrainian Easter egg](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | A traditional Ukrainian Easter egg |
![Link to artifacts: A violin becomes a Norwegian fiddle, 1893](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | A violin becomes a Norwegian fiddle, 1893 |
![Link to book: An 1875 history of the Chippewa Valley](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An 1875 history of the Chippewa Valley |
![Link to book: A teenager's diary of coming overland from Ohio in 1846](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A teenager's diary of coming overland from Ohio in 1846 |
![Link to book: A popular handbook teaches immigrants about Wisconsin, 1851.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A popular handbook teaches immigrants about Wisconsin, 1851. |
![Link to book: Barron County officials encourage settlers to emigrate to the northwoods.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Barron County officials encourage settlers to emigrate to the northwoods. |
![Link to book: Northwoods officials try to attract settlers onto cutover lands, 1902.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Northwoods officials try to attract settlers onto cutover lands, 1902. |
![Link to book: A German immigrant advises others about coming to Wisconsin (1849)](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A German immigrant advises others about coming to Wisconsin (1849) |
![Link to book: Promoters describe Superior in its infancy](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Promoters describe Superior in its infancy |
![Link to book: Promoters try to entice settlers to Bayfield County](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Promoters try to entice settlers to Bayfield County |
![Link to book: A survey report of migratory labor in Wisconsin in 1962](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A survey report of migratory labor in Wisconsin in 1962 |
![Link to book: Folklore and folktales collected by Charles E. Brown](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Folklore and folktales collected by Charles E. Brown |
![Link to book: A speech by Brothertown Indian leader Samsom Occom, 1771](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A speech by Brothertown Indian leader Samsom Occom, 1771 |
![Link to book: A guide to the Mohican language, 1789](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A guide to the Mohican language, 1789 |
![Link to book: The state markets itself to immigrants, 1867-1896](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | The state markets itself to immigrants, 1867-1896 |
![Link to book: A German emigrant guidebook, 1841](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A German emigrant guidebook, 1841 |
![Link to book: Horse thieves on the Wisconsin frontier, 1832-1865](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Horse thieves on the Wisconsin frontier, 1832-1865 |
![Link to book: An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin |
![Link to collections: Stories by and about German immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about German immigrants. |
![Link to collections: Stories by and about Norwegian immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about Norwegian immigrants.
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![Link to collections: Stories by and about immigrants from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about immigrants from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. |
![Link to collections: Stories by and about Swiss immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about Swiss immigrants. |
![Link to collections: Stories by and about Czech and Hungarian immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about Czech and Hungarian immigrants. |
![Link to collections: Stories by and about Italian immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about Italian immigrants.
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![Link to collections: Stories by and about Dutch and Belgian immigrants.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Stories by and about Dutch and Belgian immigrants. |
![Link to images: An advertisement tries to attract settlers to the cutover region.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | An advertisement tries to attract settlers to the cutover region. |
![Link to images: An Austrian painter depicts Wisconsin in the 1850s](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | An Austrian painter depicts Wisconsin in the 1850s |
![Link to images: Pictures of John Muir](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Pictures of John Muir |
![Link to manuscript: Ma Ingalls describes family life in 1861](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Ma Ingalls describes family life in 1861 |
![Link to manuscript: An Austrian painter describes sketches made while traveling Wisconsin, 1856-1860](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | An Austrian painter describes sketches made while traveling Wisconsin, 1856-1860 |
![Link to manuscript: 30 original manuscript letters of John Muir, 1861-1914](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | 30 original manuscript letters of John Muir, 1861-1914 |
![Link to manuscript: John Muir's younger brother recalls their boyhood.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | John Muir's younger brother recalls their boyhood. |
![Link to manuscript: A German immigrant describes coming to Wisconsin.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A German immigrant describes coming to Wisconsin. |
![Link to manuscript: A Norwegian immigrant describes coming to Wisconsin in 1840.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A Norwegian immigrant describes coming to Wisconsin in 1840. |