What Milwaukee is known for

The Janesville Destination is located on the border of Wisconsin and Illinois. Cities of note within the area include Madison and Milwaukee on the Wisconsin side of the destination, as well as Rockford, Illinois. The eastern border of the region is Lake Michigan, which provides boating, fishing, and other recreational activities for those in the area. The destination is named after Janesville, Wisconsin, which is in the center of the region. Per the 2010 census, the city of Janesville has a population of 63,575 people.[1]

The city of Janesville and the other towns and metropolitan areas included in the destination were originally the home to multiple Native American tribes before 1830. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed that pushed many of the native people onto reservations or further west.[1] The most populated city in the destination is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a population of 592,640. The city is known for its beer-making industry with four companies being based in the city, namely Miller, Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz. There are multiple tours that visitors can take through breweries and distilleries.[2]

A popular attraction for many who come to visit the area includes Summerfest, a music festival. The festival has reportedly had 900,000 people in attendance over the eleven-day event. In the past, artists such as Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, and Johnny Cash have performed at the festival. Taking place on the shores of Lake Michigan, the event features both local bands and artists as well as more commonly known performers. Summerfest in the past has held the title of the “largest music festival;” although, in recent years other festivals have overtaken the event. [2]

Tourists also can enjoy the Harley Davidson Museum, which is where the business originated in 1901. After the first motorbike was created by the founders of Harley Davidson in 1901, production followed on a larger scale by 1903. The museum highlights the history of Harley Davidson by having over 450 motorcycles on display. A reported highlight of the museum is the “Serial Number One” bike. Throughout the year, there are specified “bike nights” when people in the community with Harley Davidson customized bikes will bring their motorcycles to the museum and have them displayed. [3]

Another popular attraction within the Janesville Destination is the state capitol of Madison, Wisconsin. The state capitol building is located within walking distance of the lakeshore, and due to the city planners, the capitol building can be seen from most areas of the city. Construction on the building was finished in 1917, and when it was completed, a 284-foot dome was added to the roof. The capitol building in Wisconsin is three feet shorter than the capitol building in Washington D. C.[4]

Additionally located in Madison is the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, which were first established in 1952. It is said to be an area where visitors can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. The 16-acre expanse of land has various types of flowers and botanicals in bloom throughout the year, both native plants to the area as well as more exotic species. In the center of the gardens is a pavilion that was donated to the gardens by the government of Thailand, and is one of four similar structures that exist outside of Asia. The gardens are open year-round and are free for both children and adults who want to see the plant life on display. [4]

The city of Janesville has a predominant demographic of Caucasian people, with reportedly 91.7% of the population being white according to the 2010 census. Nearly 21.8% of those who reside in the city are reportedly under the age of 18, with 30.4% of households having children in the residence.[1] The largest city within the destination, Milwaukee, has a population of 599,164 according to the 2013 census estimate. Being the 31st largest city in the United States, the city's racial demographics are predominantly African American, with the 2020 census reporting that 37.8% of the population is Black/African American and 32.3% of the city’s population being reportedly Caucasian. [6] Today, Milwaukee’s economy is driven by industries including healthcare, finance, and technology. Other industries of note within the city include shipping, brewing, and food processing. Located on Lake Michigan, the ports of Milwaukee are also important to the industry in the area.[7]

The best reported time to visit the Janesville Destination is reported to be from May 14th through September 30th. The warmest months generally tend to be July, August, and June. The average high temperature for July is 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity in the destination changes depending on the season but can be expected somewhere between 54% to 65% humidity on average. The height of tourism in the area is generally the month of July, due to the warmer weather and lower humidity, with June being the second most popular month for tourism.[8] Many attractions in the area include visiting Lake Michigan or a viewpoint of the lake, touring museums such as Wisconsin’s Veteran Museum, or walking through gardens such as The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. [3]

Within the area, the city of Milwaukee is most known for its beer production. Sine 1841, the city has opened relatively many breweries, and is now often referred to as the “beer capital of the world.” Tourists in the area have the option to visit multiple breweries and distilleries during their trip. The city also has multiple parks that can be enjoyed during the stay of visitors, such as Veteran’s Park and Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. Additionally, many who come to the area know it for the Harley Davidson Museum that is in Milwaukee, where visitors can learn about the history of the company, the different motorcycles sold by the company, and see where the company was founded and continues to operate. [2]

Geography

The Janesville Destination borders Lake Michigan and, as such, has a humid continental climate.[1] This means that the area generally has cold and snowy winters with hot and humid summers. In Milwaukee, a phenomenon known as “lake breeze” is common between March and July. Lake breeze refers to convection currents of air forming over the lake and blowing into the city during the mid-afternoon, similar to coastal cities and “sea breeze.” The state of Wisconsin is known for agriculture and dairy products, and as such a majority of land in the destination is farmland and rural areas.[6]

Due to the proximity of Lake Michigan to the destination, there are a variety of plants and animals that can be seen by tourists. The red-winged blackbird can be found all throughout the area, but especially near Madison and Milwaukee. Especially common in Janesville and Milwaukee are Canadian geese, which fly through the area during migratory patterns for winter. Other birds of note that can be seen by birdwatchers and tourists include red cardinals, ring-billed gulls, and red-breasted merganser. With the unique landscapes of Lake Michigan and farmland, the plant life within the area consists of flowering plants as well as groundcover grasses. Some common flowering plants for the destination include New England aster, white fawn lily, and Siberian squill. Snakeroot, ground ivy, and buckthorn plants can also be seen in Janesville. [9]

The main geographic feature within the Janesville Destination is Lake Michigan. The lake is one of the five lakes in the Great Lakes region of the United States, it is also the second-largest of the great lakes, behind Lake Superior. Lake Michigan is the only one of the great lakes to be completely within the borders of the U.S. as all of the other great lakes are partially in Canada. It is the largest lake in the world that is within one country. Containing 1,180 cubic miles of water, the lake is, at its deepest point, 923 feet deep. Activities on the lake include fishing, boating, and playing on the beach areas. [11]

One geographical exhibit within the area is The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known by locals as the Mitchell Park Domes. In Milwaukee County, there are three “domes” or contained biomes in the hopes that those visiting can experience the variety of plant life from tropical areas, the desert, and flowers in bloom every season. The tropical dome tries to replicate the environment that exists in the Amazon Rainforest with four layers of plant life, the forest floor, the understory, the canopy, and the emergent layer. The desert dome features agave plants, saguaro cacti, and Madagascar periwinkle plants. [10]

History

The area that is now known as the Janesville Destination was first inhabited by Native American tribes such as Potawatomi, Menominee, Fox, Sauk, and Ho-Chunk Nations.[1] In 1674, a French explorer named Jacques Marquette stayed in the area, and shortly after, many fur traders started to settle the area.[7] When the Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830, many of the original natives in the land were forced to move to make room for new settlers. The Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi Nations were moved to reservations, and other tribes moved further west seeking a new home. [7]

The city of Milwaukee was founded in 1845 after many disputes with nearby cities. As the city grew, the most important industries were flour milling, leather tanning, and iron founding. Beginning in the 1840s, German immigrants began to come to the area, and with them brought the industry of beer-making. Milwaukee remained a leading manufacturing city until the 1980s when production began to decline.[7] Today, the city strives to be an art and cultural center in the midwest. The city is known as the “city of festivals,” and many events are hosted at lakefront locations, especially in the year's summer months. With over 24 event and performing centers within the city limits, visitors to the area can choose from an array of sites to see. [6]

A historical place that tourists can visit in the destination is the capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin. Built in 1917, the edifice has murals painted in different styles such as German, French, and Italian. The building is recognizable most for its 284-foot dome on the top of the structure. There are two wings of the building that branch off to either side and there are also tours each day that are free to visitors to learn about the city and the history of the state. [4]