Found: Kiwanis Park, Sheboygan, WI

Found: Kiwanis Park on the Sheboygan River, Sheboygan, Wisconsin distributed by Nery Sons, Sheboygan, Wis.,
Color by R. Nery, Curteich 3-D Natural Color reproduction, circa 1966

Wooded Fox River Shore, Appleton, WI

Wooded Fox River Shore, Old Green Bay Road, Appleton, Wisconsin, August, 10, 2012

Found: Lac La Belle Moonlight, WI

Found: Lac La Belle Moonlight, Village of Lac La Belle, Wisconsin by W. F. Groose, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin,
Velox 7 real photo post card circa 1905. Postmarked Oconomowoc July 30 9.30 AM and Green Bay July 30 6 PM

Found: Looking at Lakes and Rivers

Found: Turk's  Head, Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wis.
 The ripple marks in this rock show that it was once part of the floor of an
ancient sea. Copyright by and published by
 H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin, circa 1965

Found: "View from High Rock: This beautiful view is found in the Upper Dells of the Wisconsin River,
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin" copyright H. H. Bennett Studio, circa 1965

Found: "Greetings from Appleton, Wisconsin: Huge driftwood offers shelter from the misty spray blown up by crashing waves on a quiet beach." copyright L. L. Cook Co., 1951

Found: "Lake Scene/Bohners Lake, Burnlington, Wis." color by Eric Sanford, circa 1960

Found: "Riverside Park, Watertown, Wisconsin: Riverside Watertown's largest park, is ideally situated along
the banks of the Rock River" copyright L. L. Cook Co., 1951

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, September 4, 2010

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, August 9, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindemann 

Found: Rice Lake, near Spooner, Wisconsin by Don Bingham, circa 1965

Found: Benoit Lake, near Spooner, Wisconsin by Don Bingham, circa 1965

Found: Mallard Lake, near Spooner, Wisocnsin by Don Bingham, circa 1965
Caption: Relax and enjoy fishing, boating or swimming on this beautiful lake in the "Fish Bowl of Wisconsin."

"I'm over lakes," pronounced a friend as we approached the picnic table situated along the Lake Michigan shore in Manitowoc. Cynics were perhaps compelled by the abundance of color lake photographs and general fawning over lake views. Such views were among the most predominant depictions of Wisconsin for decades--often featuring slogans like "the land of sky blue waters" or "Relax and enjoy fishing, boating or swiming on this beautiful lake." Lakes in the days of Medford, Wisconsin photographer Don Bingham were portrayed as spaces for recreational and visual pleasure and the staging ground of many a nostalgic memory as families retreated to their lake cottage for the summer. Twenty-first century lakes in Wisconsin, politicized by Nitrogen fertilizers, noise from Jet Skis, and over-development of the shoreline, are the primary source of drinking water for many cities. Lake Michigan, for example, supplies Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Chicago, and other cities with their water. The Great Lakes Compact established a management plan for preserving the water resource in the Great Lakes Basin as awareness of the fragility of lakes grows.

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.