Found: River Road, Near La Crosse, WI

Found: River Road, Near La Crosse, Wis. 
From La Crosse to Prairie du Chien the motorist encounters highways of scenic grandeur,
passing in the shadow of river bluffs, then the broad majestic Mississippi, and again
beautiful vistas of the most interesting countryside.
Published by Levy's News Agency, La Crosse, Wis. Circa 1938.

The undulating landscape of Wisconsin grows more dramatic near the Mississippi River. The Great River Road follows the River over a stretch of 3,000 miles from Northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. In Wisconsin, there are remnants of native cultures, old settlements and opportunities to watch birds, experience agritourism, and take in the bluffs and hills.

Found: Natural Gateway, Richland Center, WI

Found: Natural Gateway, Rockridge, Near Richland Center, Wis.
by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee circa 1920s

Found: October in Wisconsin. Road to Wyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
Photo by Margery Goergen. Published by Goergen Studio, McGregor, Iowa, circa 1969

Found: The Peace Pipe, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: THE PEACE PIPE. When white men first explored this region, they found it inhabited by several Indian tribes,
one of which was the Winnebago. A remnant of this tribe is still found in the Dells country"
copyright by H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
genuine Curteich-Chicago, C.T. American Art post card, circa 1908 (reprinted 1930s)

Found: UNITED STATES FUR FACTORY - 1 816. Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
This diorama portrays the fur factory established in Prairie du Chien in 1816 with John W. Johnson as factor
and John P. Gates as interpreter. These fur factories or stations were erected at strategic points.
Here the U.S. Government supplied a side range of goods to the Indians and received from them
furs, feathers, lead and maple sugar. Color by J. A. Fagan, Fagan Publishing Co., Madison, Wis., circa 1970.

Novel portrayals of Wisconsin Native Americans date mainly to the late 1800s to mid-20th century until a reframing of the issues at last bubbled up in the white American consciousness. Driven from their homeland of Wisconsin literally in railroad cards, many natives returned on foot to the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin that had provided sustenance for generations. The "Peace Pipe" card text above refers to the "tribes" as a "remnant....still found in the Dells Country." The diorama illustrates natives receiving a "wide range of goods" (steel tips for arrows, cooking utensils, guns) for furs, feathers, lead, and maple sugar. The 21st century observer is left knowing it was not a fair trade.

County ZZ, Wrightstown, WI

County ZZ, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, June 30, 2012

Found: "Highway Scene, U.S. 16 and 12, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin" by Wayne Paper Box & Printing, Fort Wayne, Indiana, circa 1950s

Found: "River Drive, Cornell, Wis." on DOPS paper, circa 1938

Found: "Highway 130, Lone Rock, Wisconsin, on EKKP paper, circa 1930

Found: "Scene at Minocqua, Wis." on DOPS paper, circa 1941

Found: "A Pleasant Drive Near Rio, Wisconsin," circa 1910

Found: "James Street, Columbus, Wisconsin" by E. A Bishop Publishing, Racine, Wis., circa 1930

Found: "'At the Turn of the Road'" Potowatomi State Park, Door County, Wisconsin" by E. A. Bishop Publishing, Racine, Wis., postmarked July 3, 1944

Found: "Prairie Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin," by E. A. Bishop Publishing,  Racine, Wis., postmarked May 7, 1909

Found: "Driveway, Humboldt Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin," by M.L. Anneberg Publisher, Milwaukee, postmarked December 31, 1911

Found: "A Pleasant Drive, Omro, Wisconsin, by National Colortype Co, circa 1950

Found: "The Drive, Lake Side Park, Fond Du Lac, Wis." published by the Acmegraph Co, Chicago, circa 1920

Found: "Grand Dad's Bluff, La Crosse, Wis." published by Spencer-McCord Drug Co., La Cross, Wis., circa 1940

Found: "One of many Beautiful Drives near Baraboo, Wis." by Baraboo News Agency, Baraboo, Wis, circa 1930

Found: "Road Scene, Trail 3, Near La Crosse, Wis." published by Spence-McCord Drug Co., La Crosse, Wis, circa 1940

Found: "Road to the Lake: At the end of this birch lined lane are
the invited waters of an inland lake, Vacationland Scwne"
copyright The L.L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1954

Found: "Opposite Prairie du Chien, Wisc., this colorful rugged bluff
bordering the Mississippi River is in the Effigy Mounds National Monument
above Marquette and McGregor,  Iowa" Ektachrome by Margery Goergen
published by Goergen Studio, McGregor, Iowa, circa 1954

Found: "Greetings from Eagle River, Wis., Colorful autumn in the Vactionland of Wisconsin: Magnificent Autumn!...comes like a warrior with the stain of blood on his brazen mail...Longfellow" published by Wyman Photo Center, Wausau, Wisconsin, postmarked November 26, 1952

Found: "A Modern Super-Highway thru the Grandeur of Autumn" photo by Free Lance Photographers Guild, Inc. published by C. R. Brown Co., Eau Claire, Wis,  circa 1960

Found: "Greetings from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Lookout," published by Wyman Post Card Co, Wausau, Wis, circa 1960

    

Duane Hall confessing his psychopathic driving urges, scene from Annie Hall

Driving the rural back roads of 21st century Wisconsin isn't as romantic as the vintage postcards we've posted once portrayed it when gawking at the landscape was the only concern. Now there are texting teens, liquid manure spills, and farm implements wider than the road. The "picturesque" mid-century roadways depicted on postcards invited folks to jump in their cars with family and friends to motor to destinations throughout the state. Fall colors, rivers, scenic bluffs, and parks peppered the landscape. Being an attentive driver or "keeping your eyes on the road" seemed beside the point. A perfectly neurotic Wisconsin night driving movie scene is a highlight of Woody Allen's 1977 film Annie Hall.  New York City comic Alvy Singer (played by Woody Allen) and night club chanteuse Annie Hall (played by Diane Keaton) visit her home town of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Singer's Manhattan aversion to driving plays out in a scene with Annie Hall's brother Duane (played by Christoper Walken) confessing his psychopathic driving urges in his dimly lit bedroom: "Sometimes when I'm driving on the road at night and I see two headlights coming toward me fast, I have this sudden impulse to turn the wheel quickly head-on into the oncoming car. I can anticipate the explosion, the sound of shattering glas, the flames rising out of the flying gasoline..." Modern Super-Highways with their smooth curves, reinforced dividers, and fenced-off roadbeds eliminate many rural hazards as drivers zoom between cities and suburbs. Still, the back roads remain the most intriguing Wisconsin driving as they weave through the glacial Wisconsin landscape, small towns, and woods with lush trees arching overhead.

Found: Antigo by Curteichcolor® 3-D Natural Color Reproduction and Antigo Card Service, Antigo, Wisconsin, circa 1960

Found: Business Districts, Downtowns, Main Streets, WI

Found: Bruce, Wisconsin, Main Street by Don Bingham Post Cards, circa 1970

Found: Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Main Street by Cliff Montgomery, circa 1960

Found: Frederic, Wisconsin by G.R. Brown Co., circa 1968

Found: Green Bay, Wisconsin, Main Street looking copyright L.L. Cook Company, 1951

Found: Ladysmith, Wisconsin, County Seat of Rusk County by G R. Brown Co., cira 1975

Found: Marshfield, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1970

Found: Menasha, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1980

Found: Montello, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., cira 1980

Found: Phillips, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1975

Found: Platteville, Wisconsin by G.R. Brown Co., circa 1968

Found: Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1970

Found: Rice Lake, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1972

Found: Ripon, Wisconsin photo by Guy A. Wyman, Wyman Post Card Co., circa 1973

Found: Sauk City, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1968

Found: Spooner, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1970

Found: Tomah, Wisconsin by G. R. Brown Co., circa 1975

These downtown views don't attempt to make the scenes more dynamic with special optics or camera angles. The photographer stands on the center line of the main street and shoots. They just are.

Moonlight on Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Moonlight on Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, July 5, 2008
© J. Shimon & J. Lindemann 

Found: Superior, Wis., Moonlight on Lake Superior Bay
 published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1907

 Found: "Two Rivers -- Coolest Spot in Wisconsin"
by Curteich, Chicago, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Lake  Geneva, from Recreation Building, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Lake Monona, Foot of Monona Avenue, Madison, Wis. by E.A. Bishop Publishing, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin by Ahrens News Agency, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Wisconsin River, Nelson Dewey State Park, Near Prairie Du Chien, Wis. circa 1931
Caption: "...Indeed it is difficult to imagine a scene more charming than the Wisconsin River by moonlight, as the quiet waters reflect the silvery rays on the pebbled beach and along the winding shores and wooded banks."

The melancholy moon shimmering on lakes and rivers appears a common theme circa 1930. In post-Great Depression America, the faraway moon touching the landscape creates a mystic escape.