Wisconsin: Land of Dreams

This Day in History: May 29, 1848

Wisconsin, The Badger State, The Dairy State, The Cheese State
   
Wisconsin is
Picturesque farms, sun-dappled fields, contented cows...

  

Aerial America: Wisconsin

Chances are we all have a little bit of Wisconsin in our fridge. But there's a lot more to the Badger State than cheese and arctic temperatures. Help us plan an aerial reconnaissance on all the amazing sights Wisconsin has to offer. Contenders include the Wisconsin State Capitol, as well as the marvel of Milwaukee City Hall, which was once the tallest building in the world. Help us decide what to see, and remember: the sky's the limit.

When you hear someone mention Wisconsin, what is the first thought that comes to mind? Of course, it has to be CHEESE! Since Wisconsin is one of the top producers of milk, cheese and butter in the country, it is of no surprise that it has also been given the nickname 'America's Dairyland', which is synonymous with the The Dairy State and The Cheese State. 

Wisconsin cheeses have an illustrious heritage of more than 160 years of quality and craftsmanship. During this long and rich history, the art and science of cheesemaking have been captured in time-honored traditions that produce cheese varieties of unsurpassed excellence. Today, Wisconsin produces more than 600 varieties, types, and styles of American, international-style, and original cheeses that win more awards than any other state or country. Read MORE...

As for The Badger State, Miners earned Wisconsin that nickname because their act of digging homes out of hillsides near the mines was a little too similar to that of the badgers who also dug underground places of abode.

Just what does Wisconsin mean? The name is based on the Chippewa Indian word Ouisconsin, believed to mean "grassy place" or "gathering of the waters." The state was named after the Wisconsin River. Wisconsin was successively part of the original Northwest Territory (1788-1800), Indiana Territory (1800-1809) and Michigan Territory (1818-1836) before it became a territory in its own right (1836-1848). Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th state on May 29, 1848.

Wisconsinis a U.S. state located in the north-central United States,
in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

Wisconsin State Flag

The Wisconsin state flag features the state coat of arms on both sides against a field of blue (see Wisconsin state seal), with the state name of Wisconsin above and 1848 below (year Wisconsin was admitted to the Union).

Wisconsin State Seal

White-Tailed Deer

Wisconsin designated the white-tailed deer as the state wildlife animal in 1957. An animal of incredible beauty and power, white-tailed deer are able to run up to 40 miles per hour, jump 9 foot fences, and swim 13 miles per hour. The white underside of the deer's tail waves when running and is flashed as a warning when danger is sensed. Both native Americans and settlers relied on the white-tailed deer for buckskin and food.

Wisconsin State Bird: American Robin

Wisconsin designated the American robin (Turdus migratorius) as the official state bird in 1949 (voted on by the school children of Wisconsin in 1926-27). One of America's favorite songbirds, robins are watched for each year as the heralder of spring.

The American robin has many vocalizations - rich songs composed of long phrases and "whinny" and "tut" calls. The female is muted in color compared to the male. The American Robin is also the state bird of Michigan, and Connecticut.

 Wisconsin State Flower: Wood Violet

Wisconsin designated the diminutive and delicate wood violet (Viola papilionacea) as the official state flower in 1909.

  For all State Symbols of Wisconsin click HERE!

Land of Dreams
 

Heavily forested rolling hills
With no mountainous highrise
North toward Lake Superior
Waterfalls roar in surprise

Broad uplands, narrow valleys
Southwestern Wisconsin knows
Yet unremitting flatness
Doth central locations impose

Distinctly shaped ridges
Glaciated as planned
Southeastern part of the state
Boasts carvings not by hand

Wisconsin, oh, Wisconsin
Summer, fall, winter, spring

Beauty within landscapes
Mother nature doth bring

Summer grain fields reign golden in the sun
Autumn flames burnt orange-red

 Winter glistens amid ice and snow

  Springtime robins' melodies spread

History rich in folklore
Men labor in teams
Upward, onward, forward
'Tis a land of dreams

©2014 Sharla Lee Shults

  Wisconsin Facts and Trivia

Also on this date: #13 Rhode Island, May 29, 1790

Next state(s) by month:

#15 Kentucky, June 1, 1792

&

#16 Tennessee, June 1, 1796