2012-2013 JDSP Teacher Resource Packet - Milwaukee Art Museum

Tour 2: Wisconsin History
Background
History is a record of past events relating to a particular people, country, and time period.
History includes events, social and political philosophies, religious beliefs, art, literature,
and music.
Wisconsin history offers an unusually good vantage point for a long view of much of our
national history. The state was an important crossroads for the fur trade and therefore
important in diplomacy and Indian policy well into the nineteenth century. Wisconsin
Territory’s Organic Act of 1836 represented a landmark in the interpretation of the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
State Bird: robin
State Flower: wood violet
State Mineral: galena
State Mammal: badger
State Insect: honeybee
State Dance: polka
State Song: “On, Wisconsin”
State Tree: sugar maple
State Rock: red granite
State Wildlife Animal: white-tailed deer
State Domestic Animal: cow
State Fish: muskellunge
State Motto: “Forward”
Objectives
Gain an understanding of the many kinds of people who lived in Wisconsin originally
and who immigrated to Wisconsin over the years.
Increase appreciation for the geography of the state and how the terrain and climate
have affected its historical development.
Develop an awareness of the changes the state has undergone (both rural and urban)
since explorers and traders first arrived.
Gain an understanding of and appreciation for the way art depicts a state’s history and
culture and, specifically, Wisconsin’s relationship to the rest of the U.S. and the world.
Primary Point
Through works of art, we can better understand the history of our state, beginning with its
initial settlement and including the experiences and culture of its residents over time. This
tour provides several examples, from portraits to works that reflect a variety of industries:
fur trading, mining, agriculture, lumbering, and more.
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© 2012 Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53202
JDSP – Teacher Packet