Jean Nicolet was the first documented exploration of Wisconsin by French explorers. He landed near the Bay of Green Bay and met with leaders of the local Ho-Chunk Nation. Sent by Samuel De Champlain to broker peace in hopes of expanding French fur trade further west. Tune in to learn more about Jean Nicolet and his place in Wisconsin history.

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Sources:

“Arrival of the First Europeans.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS388.

Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and Nicolet, 1634. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text6/hochunk.pdf.

“Ho-Chunk History.” Milwaukee Public Museum. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-150.

“Jean Nicolet.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Nicolet.

“Nicolet, Jean 1598-1642.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS1665.

In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, Badgerland Journal will be covering Revolutionary War veterans who served, later moved to Wisconsin and are interred in the state. The first of this series cover Philip Allen, whose family founded Allen's Grove Wisconsin. Philip Allen was present for the Siege of Boston at the Roxbury Garrison, Battle of Bennington and the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga. Tune in to learn more about Wisconsin's connection to the Revolution.

Let us know how you liked the podcast or suggest new ideas! Contact us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ or send an email to [email protected]

Sources:

Barrett, Brian. “Half Moon as a Revolutionary War Camp.” New York Almanack, January 31, 2021. https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2019/02/half-moon-as-a-revolutionary-war-camp/.

“Bennington.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bennington.

Brustman, Bob. “Rediscovering Roxbury’s Revolutionary Role.” Harvard Gazette, April 6, 2006. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/04/rediscovering-roxburys-revolutionary-role/.

“History of Allen Grove.” Wisconsin Historical Society, January 1, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA4607.

“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17814, Philip Allen, Mass.” National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/53807149.

“Saratoga.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/saratoga.

On May 13th 2025 the shipwreck of the Tugboat J.S. Ames was found in Manitowoc Bay. The ship lay within The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary which was recently designated in 2021. This episode talks about the history of both the J.S. Ames as well as the creation of the Oceanic Atmospheric Administrations newest National Marine Sanctuary.

Let us know what other shipwrecks we should cover! Contact us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠ or send an email to [email protected]

Sources:

“J.C. Ames.” Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/859?region=Index.

Looby, Caitlin. “Wisconsin Angler Discovers One of the Largest Tugboats in Great Lakes History off Manitowoc.” Journal Sentinel, May 19, 2025. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/05/19/historic-tugboat-scrapped-off-manitowoc-discovered-by-wisconsin-angler/83722830007/.

Looby, Caitlin. “Wisconsin’s National Marine Sanctuary Is a Museum Beneath the Water.” Journal Sentinel, March 21, 2024. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2024/03/21/what-to-know-about-wisconsins-marine-sanctuary-in-lake-michigan/73022115007/.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Ralph and Mary Ehlinger to discuss their play Lincoln and Liberty Too. The story is based on their ancestor Peter Ehlinger who served in the Civil War, was captured, and died in Andersonville Prison. Tune in to learn about how they turned their family history into a compelling story about family, hope and faith.

Let us know what other Wisconsin Heroes we should cover! Contact us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠ or send an email to [email protected]

Poplar Wisconsin produced one of the best fighter pilots in U.S. History. Richard Bong became known as the Ace of All Aces after he shot down 40 Japanese airplanes. While he cemented his place in history as an American hero, his life came to a tragic end shortly before the end of the war. Tune in to learn more about the history of Richard Bong.

Let us know what other Wisconsin Heroes we should cover! Contact us on ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter or send an email to [email protected]

Sources:

“Bong Given Promotion; Now Major.” Leader-Telegram. April 15, 1944.

“Bong Hunts in South Dakota.” Leader-Telegram. January 20, 1945.

“Bong, Bride Honeymooning.” The La Crosse Tribune, February 12, 1945.

Clements, Olen W. “Maj. Bong Grounded Indefinitely; Wants to Keep up Combat Flying.” The La Crosse Tribune, April 15, 1944.

Lauritsen, John. “Explorers Find What They Believe Is Richard Bong’s Downed Plane in Jungle Ravine.” CBS News, May 24, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/explorers-find-what-they-believe-is-richard-bongs-downed-plane-in-jungle-ravine/.

“Leaving Bong Alone.” Monroe Evening Times, January 12, 1945.

“Maj. Bong Insurance Pay Cancelled Due to Jet Plane Flight.” The La Crosse Tribune, August 2, 1946.

“Major Bong Dies in Jet Plane Crash.” The La Crosse Tribune, August 7, 1945.

Malloryk. “Major Richard Bong’s Medal of Honor.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, June 13, 2021. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/richard-bong-medal-of-honor.

“Marjorie Bong Is Wed in Hollywood.” Janesville Daily Gazette, October 31, 1946.

Miller, Jane. “Air Situation Changed.” Leader-Telegram. November 17, 1943.

“Mrs. Bong Given Many Job Offers.” Waukesha Daily Freeman, March 18, 1946.

“Richard Bong.” Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/richardbong.

“Richard Ira Bong.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2324.

“Who Is Richard Bong?” Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, May 28, 2024. https://bongcenter.org/about/who-is-major-richard-i-bong/.

The Shipwreck of the Trinidad was discovered by the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association last year and was recently placed on the Historic Register by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Today we are going to discuss the history Wisconsin's recently discovered shipwrecks.

Make sure to let us know your favorite Great Lakes shipwreck! Check us out on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter or send an email to [email protected]

Sources:

Clough, Christopher. “This Lake Michigan ‘Time Capsule’ Shipwreck Is Now on the Wisconsin Historic Register.” Green Bay Press-Gazette, March 8, 2024. https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/2024/03/08/time-capsule-great-lakes-shipwreck-joins-wisconsin-historic-register/72888209007/.

Great Lake Shipwreck Research. “Wisconsin’s Newest Shipwreck Revealed - August 2023.” YouTube, September 1, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuBcog1W7jM.

Hernandez, Joe. “Shipwreck Hunters Discover a Schooner’s 142-Year-Old Remains in Lake Michigan.” NPR, September 4, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/04/1197480909/shipwreck-trinidad-found-lake-michigan-wisconsin.

Suliman, Adela. “Intact 1881 ‘Trinidad’ Shipwreck Found in Wisconsin Waters by Historians.” Washington Post, September 2, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/09/02/trinidad-schooner-shipwreck-maritime/.

“Trinidad.” Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Accessed May 27, 2024. https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/617.

Mildred Fish-Harnack was the only American women to be executed on Hitler's direct orders. She was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin and was a professor at UW-Madison before moving to Germany with her husband Arvid Harnack. When the Nazis rose to power Mildred, Arvid and their friends began to work against the authoritarian government even though it would eventually cost them their lives. Tune in to learn more about this remarkably courageous women.

Let us know who your favorite guest has been on

Sources:

Brysac, Shareen Blair. “When the Red Orchestra Fell Silent.” The New York Times, February 15, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/opinion/global/when-the-red-orchestra-fell-silent.html.

Cottrell, Chris. “American Resistance Member Is Honored in Berlin.” The New York Times, September 21, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/world/europe/american-resistance-member-is-honored-in-berlin.html.

Higgins, Jim. “Gripping Biography Details How Milwaukee’s Mildred Harnack Led Resistance to Hitler While Living in Berlin.” Journal Sentinel, September 2, 2021. https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/08/18/book-details-how-milwaukees-mildred-harnack-led-resistance-hitler-biography/5559514001/.

“Mildred Fish-Harnack.” Wisconsin Women Making History, February 14, 2024. https://womeninwisconsin.org/profile/mildred-fish-harnack/.

“Mildred Fish-Harnack: Germany’s Secret Hero – Wisconsin Biographies.” PBS Wisconsin Education, May 6, 2024. https://pbswisconsineducation.org/bio/mildred-fish-harnack/.

Today's episode discusses the German-American identity of the Pabst Family. I am joined by Grace Mager as we discuss how the beer baron's family navigated both their German heritage as immigrants, as well as their love of their new home in Milwaukee.

Check out the Pabst Mansion website here

Let us know what you think of our podcast on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, or send an email to [email protected]

Sources:

“Brilliantly Wedded.” Milwaukee Sentinel. June 23, 1897. 

“Eulogy of Capt. Pabst by Gen. F. C. Winkler. Milwaukee Journal. January 5, 1904. 9. 

“Gambrinus in Glass.” Milwaukee Journal. April 21, 1893. 

Kamphoefner, Walter D. Germans in America: A Concise History. Rowman & Littlefield, 2021. 

“Many Honor Captain of Industry.” Milwaukee Journal. January 4, 1904. 3. 

Miller, Carl. “The Rise of the Beer Barons.” BeerHistory.com. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.beerhistory.com/library/holdings/beerbarons.shtml. 

Milwaukee Sentinel. June 20, 1897. 

“Mrs. Nunnemacher Will Wed.” New York Times. March 29, 1902. 

“Mrs. Pabst Passes Away.” Milwaukee Journal. October 4, 1906. 9. 

“Old Pabst Mansion on Highland Faces.” Milwaukee Journal. May 10, 1970. 

“Pabst Family Historical Letters Give Glimpse into WIS.. German Beer Roots.” ABC7 Chicago, March 2, 2021. https://abc7chicago.com/pabst-letters-milwuakee-wisconsin/10378226/. 

“Social and Personal.” Milwaukee Journal. March 26, 1896. 2. 

“The Germans in America.” Chronology : The Germans in America (European Reading Room, Library of Congress). Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/rr/european/imde/germchro.html.  

Widen, Larry. “Frederick Pabst: Brewer, Banker, Empire Builder.” Shepherd Express, May 3, 2023. https://shepherdexpress.com/culture/milwaukee-history/frederick-pabst-brewer-banker-empire-builder/. 

The state of Wisconsin has a large variety of geographic features. Much of the land has been influenced by the glaciers when they melted over 17,000 years ago. Today's podcast will cover some of the most well-known features such as the driftless area, the Kettle Moraine, the Niagara escarpment, ancient coral reefs, and the sub-continental divide.

A listener suggested today's episode! You can suggest the next episode by contacting us!

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Resources:

“About the Escarpment.” Niagara Escarpment Foundation , February 5, 2021. https://nefoundation.ca/about-the-escarpment/.

Bence, Susan. “Did You Know There’s an Ancient Coral Reef in Wauwatosa?” WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee’s NPR, July 6, 2020. https://www.wuwm.com/environment/2016-05-27/did-you-know-theres-an-ancient-coral-reef-in-wauwatosa.

“Driftless Area.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS1626.

Hayes, Paul G. “Subcontinental Divide.” Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, April 16, 2020. https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/subcontinental-divide/.

“History | Kettle Moraine State Forest.” Wisconsin DNR. Accessed December 25, 2023. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kmn/history.

“Niagara Escarpment.” Destination Door County. Accessed December 25, 2023. https://www.doorcounty.com/experience/scenic-attractions/niagara-escarpment.

“The Niagara Escarpment: Wisconsin’s Eighth Natural Wonder.” OnMilwaukee, September 30, 2011. https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/niagaraescarpment.

“The Physical Geography of Wisconsin.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS387.

Unknown, Nicole. “Few People Know These Prehistoric Reefs in Wisconsin Are Hundreds of Millions of Years Old.” OnlyInYourState, March 10, 2018. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/wisconsin/wi-prehistoric-reefs/.

One of my fellow graduate students Jesse Marshall took some time out of his busy schedule at St. Augustine Prep here in Milwaukee to join the episode today. His research focuses largely on the experience of German Americans in the United States. Much of his research looks at Milwaukee Wisconsin because of its high German-American population. We discuss how the German-American experience has changed and adapted in Milwaukee and the United States beginning from the country's inception to the modern day.

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