Wisconsin Facts

Wisconsin consumes nearly 21 million gallons of ice cream each year.

1634 - Jean Nicolet, a French fur trader, was the first explorer to reach Wisconsin.

1764 - Green Bay becomes the first permanent settlement in Wisconsin.

1848 - Wisconsin becomes the 30th State in the US (May 29th).

1848 - The University of Wisconsin is established (Madison).

1854 - Republican Party The Republican Party was founded in a schoolhouse in Ripon.

1856 - Kindergarten The first kindergarten in the United States was in Watertown and was started by Margarethe Schurz.

1861 - Kidney Removal The wold's first successful kidney removal was done in Milwaukee by Dr. Erastus Wolcott.

1866 - The University of Wisconsin - Platteville is established.

1867 - Typewriter The first practical typewriter was designed in Milwaukee.

1881 - Ice Cream Sundae The first ice cream sundae was concocted in Two Rivers.

1882 - Hydroelectric The first hydroelectric plant in the United states was built at Fox River

1883 - The first malted milk was made in Racine

1884 - Circus The first Ringling Brothers Circus was staged in Baraboo.

1886 - Electric Trolley The world's first electric trolley started operating in Appleton.

1913 - Prisoner work release is introduced in Wisconsin, called "Huber Law".

1921 - Wisconsin becomes the first state to pass a law eliminating all legal discrimination against women.

1932 - Wisconsin is the first state to pass a law adopting unemployment compensation.

1962 - Wisconsin is the first state to require seat belts to be installed in cars.

1986 - Marital Property Act: Wisconsin became the first sate to adopt the Uniform Marital Property Act on January 1