What Is Wisconsin Known For? 21 Things Wisconsinites Love About Themselves

Wisconsin is the 30th state to enter the union. It’s also one of the most famous midwestern states in the country. But Wisconsin is also known for so many amazing things. If you’re planning a trip to Wisconsin, you won’t be disappointed. You will have so much to do that you’ll have to plan a trip back to America’s Dairyland. It’s no wonder that Wisconsin is one of the most diverse and beautiful states in the US. Let’s take a look at the 21 things Wisconsin is most known for.

1. Cheeses Galore

Wisconsin produces a lot of milk, especially cheese. That is why Wisconsinites are known as Cheeseheads. Wisconsin’s cheese is famous and delicious. If you visit Wisconsin, that’s the first thing you have to try. 

2. Beers, Beers, and More Beers

Another thing that Wisconsin is known for is its beer. It is home to many craft beer breweries, but also one of the quintessential beer companies in America, the Miller Brewing Company. 

3. Harley Davidson

If you’re a motorcycle lover, then you are going to love Milwaukee. Located in the largest city in Wisconsin is the Harley-Davidson Museum. Why? William Harley and Arthur Davidson were the ones who developed the original Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the early 1900s in Milwaukee.

4. Happy Days

The popular television show Happy Days is set in Milwaukee. This is what made Milwaukee more famous than it was before. But there are also other shows set in Wisconsin including Laverne and Shirley and That 70s Show.

5. Growing Cranberries

For those lovers of vodka cranberries, thank Wisconsin farmers. They grow cranberries in 20 counties throughout the central and northern areas of the state. Farmers started producing cranberries in the 1850s and now Wisconsin produces 60% of cranberries countrywide. 

6. Great Lakes State

Wisconsin is one of the few states in the nation that borders a Great Lake. However, Wisconsin borders two Great Lakes, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan. Just imagine 800 miles of majestic coastline where you can see so many diverse animals. There are also 48 lighthouses throughout the coastline.

7. Green Bay Packers

Located in Green Bay, WI, the Green Bay Packers are one of the most famous football teams in the nation. They have won so many games and have been to many Super Bowls throughout history.

8. Frank Lloyd Wright

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Wisconsin. He is the most famous son of the state. There are also several architectural feats that Wright designed located in Wisconsin. 

9. Cold Winters

If you’d like to visit Wisconsin when its weather is nice and warm, then it’s best to go in the summer. Winters are incredibly tough in Wisconsin. It snows heavily and the temperatures can go as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Fishing

One of the greatest things about Wisconsin is that it borders two Great Lakes. That means you can take out that fishing pole and fish to your heart’s content. Wisconsin is known to have many species of fish.

11. Milwaukee Art Museum

Another famous Wisconsin night is artist Georgia O’Keeffe. If you’d like to check out her amazing art, you can go to the Milwaukee Art Museum which not only has works by O’Keefe, but also has American art, Haitian art, and even German art.

12. Toilet Paper Capital of the World

Wisconsin has around 160 paper mills throughout the state and produces all types of paper products, from cardboard to toilet paper. Green Bay is known as the “toilet paper capital of the world.” Furthermore, the paper industry generates about $18 billion for the state.

13. Ginseng Production

Ginseng is an important herb that has provided people with natural medicine remedies. Wisconsin farmers produce around 1 million pounds of ginseng every year. That amounts to 90% of the country’s ginseng production.

14. Republican Party

In 1854, the Republican Party was founded in Wisconsin. For years it was a Republican stronghold, but in recent years it has become more Democratic, although it has been a battleground state in the recent presidential elections.

15. German and Scandinavian Heritage

Wisconsin is home to many German and Scandinavian immigrants. They immigrated from Europe in the 19th century. Furthermore, the state is a center for both German-American and Scandinavian-American food, culture, and heritage.

16. Cream Puffs

Delicious cream puffs are European-based, but they have become a Wisconsin favorite. If you go to the Wisconsin State Fair, that’s one of the things that you have to try.

17. Wisconsin Dells

The Wisconsin Dells are sandstone formations that have been carved by glaciers. It is also a city in the state where these formations are located. There are various theme parks and state parks here, too.

18. Malibu of the Midwest

One of the surprising things that you can do in Lake Michigan is surf. Sheboygan, WI, is nicknamed the “Malibu of the Midwest” because you can relax and frolic in the water, as well as surf.

19. Wisconsin River

Wisconsin is named after the Wisconsin River. The river has been an important waterway in the state and for the Native American tribes that lived there for many years before Europeans arrived.

20. Booyah

Originally European, booyah is a thick stew that can take up to two days to cook. But this delicious stew has become a Midwestern favorite. Furthermore, it is one of the most popular dishes in Wisconsin.

21. The Badger State

Wisconsin is nicknamed the Badger State. but that’s not because of the animal, the badger. In the 1820s they were minors that traveled from all over the country to work in the mines. Many of them slept in those tunnels, which is where the nickname was coined because the miners would sleep much like the badger would.

Conclusion

Enjoy Wisconsin’s countryside and lush forests, delicious cheeses, and craft beer, and take in those breathless views along Lake Michigan. Wisconsin is for those who want to take in the state’s nature, but also enjoy some beer and cheese while learning about the state’s history. For those of you who are considering taking a trip to the Badger State, don’t hesitate. You will enjoy every second in Wisconsin!