Walking Tour Map
Walking Tour
First there was the river....and the pines.
John Curran established a trading post and boarding house in the area in 1859. In 1871 or so, Anderson W. Brown and Anson P. Vaughn passed through the area cruising for timber for the Brown family sawmill in Stevens Point. The Wisconsin River would be used to transport the logs from here to the sawmill. Anderson Brown had another idea. He envisioned a sawmill here that would be powered by the waters of the Pelican Rapids. Logs for the mill would be stored in Fish Lake (now called Boom Lake). The vision led the Brown family to purchase the surrounding property of Pelican Rapids and plat the village of Rhinelander.
Then there was a town....
A town started as lumbermen and then a railroad came to harvest the vast stores of pine. Demand created new businesses and a growing economy for the northwoods. Homes were built that celebrated the architecture of the time as families established themselves.
Come and take a tour through Rhinelander's history as told by its people and the buildings they created. Ask for more information and tour guides at any of the hotels or motels in Rhinelander or stop down to the Main Street Office of Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. at 21A S Brown Street.
We'd enjoy meeting you!
Check out more area history here: History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties
Another historic site to visit is the Pioneer Logging Museum - located at the start of the walking tour. Additionally, spend some time cruising the historic Wisconsin River on the Wilderness Queen with Wisconsin River Cruises! .
John Curran established a trading post and boarding house in the area in 1859. In 1871 or so, Anderson W. Brown and Anson P. Vaughn passed through the area cruising for timber for the Brown family sawmill in Stevens Point. The Wisconsin River would be used to transport the logs from here to the sawmill. Anderson Brown had another idea. He envisioned a sawmill here that would be powered by the waters of the Pelican Rapids. Logs for the mill would be stored in Fish Lake (now called Boom Lake). The vision led the Brown family to purchase the surrounding property of Pelican Rapids and plat the village of Rhinelander.
Then there was a town....
A town started as lumbermen and then a railroad came to harvest the vast stores of pine. Demand created new businesses and a growing economy for the northwoods. Homes were built that celebrated the architecture of the time as families established themselves.
Come and take a tour through Rhinelander's history as told by its people and the buildings they created. Ask for more information and tour guides at any of the hotels or motels in Rhinelander or stop down to the Main Street Office of Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. at 21A S Brown Street.
We'd enjoy meeting you!
Check out more area history here: History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties
Another historic site to visit is the Pioneer Logging Museum - located at the start of the walking tour. Additionally, spend some time cruising the historic Wisconsin River on the Wilderness Queen with Wisconsin River Cruises! .