One of the surest ways to spot someone who isn't from here is to watch them struggle while attempting to pronounce Wisconsin town names. It can be hilarious to witness. Well, luckily someone asked some people from California trying to pronounce some Wisconsin town names...and filmed it. Let's just say they did not do a good job. This will provide a good laugh for you today.
What do you think? What unusual/hard to pronounce Wisconsin town names should have been featured?
With the state motto “Forward,” Wisconsin is known for always progressing towards new horizons. As such, there are several inventions from Wisconsin. Plus, Wisconsin is often at the forefront of new discoveries. And just to prove our point, here are 10 Wisconsin inventions that set us apart from the rest of the country.
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1. George Esterly invents the first harvesting machine (1844)
Hardly anyone under 30 knows what a ribbon is, but if not for the typewriter, we wouldn't have word processing machines, making this one of the most important inventions from Wisconsin.
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4. Dr. John Carhart built the first steam-powered automobile (1871)
It all happened when a customer asked Berner to put some chocolate syrup on top of ice cream. Ummmmm....awesome idea, resulting in not just one of the best things Wisconsin did first, but one of the sweetest, too.
And the amazing part is that this list only talks about the things invented in Wisconsin - and not the multitude of things that Wisconsinites perfected. They certainly make us proud of our Wisconsin roots!
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So, were you surprised by this list? Or did you already know about these Wisconsin inventions? Know of any other interesting things from Wisconsin to add to this list? Tell us!
Want to know more about inventions from Wisconsin? Check out our past article, which features one of the tastiest things invented in Wisconsin.
If you’ve spent a summer morning near a Wisconsin lake, you might have heard it – the call of the common loon. It’s a haunting, remarkable Wisconsin sound, and it’s a call some Wisconsinites work to perfect themselves – can they pull it off? Find out how you can be the judge below. Here's what you need to know about this beloved Wisconsin bird and the people who do their best to speak its loony language.
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Wisconsin boasts a significant population of loons, particularly in the northern region that's home to numerous lakes and wetlands.
During the breeding season, which typically spans from late April to early September, Common Loons establish territories on freshwater lakes and ponds throughout northern Wisconsin. They are particularly abundant in areas with large, clear-water lakes that provide suitable nesting habitat and abundant fish populations for feeding.
Common loons are known to return to the same breeding territories year after year, sometimes forming long-term bonds with their mates and raising their young in the same area. They are prevalent around the Iron County community of Mercer, which refers to itself as the "Loon Capital of the World.”
Mercer is home to a large Loon statue called Claire d' Loon. It’s the third-largest loon in the world. It weighs over 2,000 pounds and is over 16 feet tall.
The community holds an annual festival called “Loon Day.” It takes place on a designated day in mid to late August, coinciding with the peak of summer in northern Wisconsin.
One of the highlights of Loon Day is the annual Loon Calling Contest, where participants of all ages gather to showcase their best loon calls. Some of the callers might need a little more practice, but the best would make any Wisconsin loon proud!
Loons are incredible birds and one of the things that make summers in Wisconsin unforgettable. Is there anything better than hearing this distinctive Wisconsin sound echo across a still lake? The Wisconsin loon population does face some serious threats; you can learn more about how you can help protect these special birds on the Loon Project website. Make your Wisconsin travel plans up to Wisconsin's loon country on Booking.com; and here’s where to find even more things that make Wisconsin one of a kind.
