Misplaced Pages

#51948

99-567: Downtown is bounded by Lake Michigan to the east, Interstate 43 to the west, East Brady Street Historic District to the north, and the three rivers of the confluence to the south, ( Milwaukee River , Menomonee River , Kinnickinnic River ). It encompasses several subdistricts, and its diverse architecture includes the Milwaukee City Hall , which was once the tallest City Hall in the world when completed in 1895. Downtown Milwaukee's residential population has grown significantly since

198-637: A British colonial and early American military base and fur trade center, founded in 1781. With the advent of European exploration into the area in the late 17th century, Lake Michigan became used as part of a line of waterways leading from the Saint Lawrence River to the Mississippi River and thence to the Gulf of Mexico . French coureurs des bois and voyageurs established small ports and trading communities, such as Green Bay, on

297-517: A designated scenic road system, connects all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. The lake is a great place to view ice volcanoes, which typically occur at the start of the winter season. Fiserv Forum Fiserv Forum ( / f aɪ ˈ s ɜːr v ˈ f ɔːr əm / ; stylized as fiserv.forum ) is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin . It is the home of

396-412: A massive demographic-shift, as their western neighbors fled the violence. The Iroquois sought refuge to the west and north of Lake Michigan. The Straits of Mackinac were an important Native American travel corridor and fur-trade route. Located on the southern side of the straits sits the town of Mackinaw City, Michigan , the site of Fort Michilimackinac (a reconstructed French fort founded in 1715); on

495-482: A new multi-purpose venue and entertainment district that will anchor a new development vision activated by sports, entertainment, residential and office uses. The site, which primarily sits between 4th Street and 6th Street from State Street to McKinley Avenue, will seamlessly link with active development on all sides, including Old World Third Street, Schlitz Park, The Brewery, the Milwaukee riverfront, Water Street and

594-466: A point between Milwaukee and Racine to a point between Grand Haven and Muskegon, divides the lake into northern and southern basins. Each basin has a clockwise flow of water, deriving from rivers and winds. Prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, producing a moderating effect on the climate of western Michigan. There is a mean difference in summer water temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 5 degrees Celsius) between

693-498: A result of improvements to the Welland Canal in 1918, an invasion of sea lampreys and overharvesting , there has been a decline in native lake trout populations, ultimately causing an increase in the population of another invasive species, the alewife . As a result, salmonids, including various strains of brown trout , steelhead ( rainbow trout ), coho and chinook salmon , were introduced as predators in order to decrease

792-530: A row in 2020. Lake levels tend to be the lowest in winter. The normal low-water mark is 1.00 foot (30 cm) below datum ( 577.5 ft or 176.0 m ). In the winter of 1964, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their lowest level at 1.38 feet (42 cm) below datum. As with the high-water records, monthly low-water records were set each month from February 1964 through January 1965. During this twelve-month period, water levels ranged from 1.38 to 0.71 feet (42–22 cm) below Chart Datum. The all-time low-water mark

891-430: Is 46 fathoms 3 feet (279 ft; 85 m), while its greatest depth is 153 fathoms 5 feet (923 ft; 281 m). It contains a volume of 1,183 cubic miles (4,932 km ) of water. Green Bay in the northwest is its largest bay. Grand Traverse Bay in its northeast is another large bay. Lake Michigan's deepest region, which lies in its northern half, is called Chippewa Basin (named after prehistoric Lake Chippewa ) and

990-647: Is believed to have been the first European to reach Lake Michigan, possibly in 1634 or 1638. In the earliest European maps of the region, the name of Lake Illinois has been found (named for the Illinois Confederation of tribes), in addition to that of "Michigan". During the 1640s and 1650s, the Beaver Wars (over the fur trade with the European colonies), initiated by the Iroquois , forced

1089-805: Is controlled by the locks operated by the bi-national Lake Superior Board of Control . Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is wholly within the borders of the United States; the others are shared with Canada. Lake Michigan has a surface area of 22,404 sq mi (58,030 km ); (13,237 square miles (34,280 km ) lying in Michigan, 7,358 square miles (19,060 km ) in Wisconsin, 234 square miles (610 km ) in Indiana, & 1,576 square miles (4,080 km ) in Illinois) making it

SECTION 10

#1732787668052

1188-672: Is largely credited for a change in urban planning policies which began an ongoing renaissance in Downtown. During Mayor Norquist, Milwaukee began construction of the Milwaukee Riverwalk and saw widescale redevelopment of abandoned warehouses in the Historic Third Ward . That progress continued through the 2000s and 2010s with the construction of The Hop , Wisconsin Center , Fiserv Forum , University Club Tower ,

1287-586: Is located in Downtown Milwaukee along the shore of Lake Michigan and adjacent to Lakefront State Park. The 75-acre festival park is the site of the annual Summerfest musical festival and the home of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. It also plays host to 11 other ethnic and cultural festivals as well as several run and walks for charity events. The park is set atop a closed and redeveloped army base and

1386-564: Is separated from South Chippewa Basin by a relatively shallower area called the Mid Lake Plateau. In the mid 20th century, construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Waterway opened the Great Lakes to ocean-going vessels. But the wider ocean-going container ships that were developed later do not fit through the locks on these routes, which limits shipping on the lakes. Lake freighters are used on

1485-485: Is supported by tourism , with large seasonal populations attracted by Lake Michigan. Many seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return to other homes for the winter. The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana, is heavily industrialized. Cities on the shores of Lake Michigan include: Illinois Indiana Michigan Wisconsin The National Park Service maintains

1584-433: Is the only Great Lake located fully in the United States; the other four are shared between the U.S. and Canada. It is the world's largest lake , by area, located fully in one country, and is shared, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , and Michigan . Ports along its shores include Chicago , Illinois, Gary , Indiana, Milwaukee and Green Bay , Wisconsin, and Muskegon , Michigan. To

1683-650: The BMO Harris Bradley Center . The arena seats 17,385 for basketball games, 15,178 for ice hockey and indoor football, and up to 18,000 for concerts. It also features a layout and equipment for an NHL / NCAA -regulation ice hockey rink and ice shows such as Disney on Ice , thus it still will be able to host the NCAA Frozen Four as the BMO Harris Bradley Center did in the past in 1993, 1997 and 2006. However,

1782-599: The Chicago Lakefront Trail . Where there are no beaches or marinas, stone or concrete revetments protect the shoreline from erosion. The Chicago lakefront is accessible for about 24 miles (39 km) between the city's southern and northern limits along the lake. Twelve million people live along Lake Michigan's shores, mainly in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. The economy of many communities in northern Michigan and Door County, Wisconsin ,

1881-595: The Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers , intergovernmental organization led by the governing chief executives of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec , and by the governors of the U.S. states of Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Minnesota , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin . The Conference came into force, in December 2008, with the enactment of laws in all of

1980-488: The Historic Third Ward , located just south of downtown, is now an upper-class mixed-use neighborhood. The Third Ward is noted for a large number of condominium and loft apartments, antique stores, boutiques and art galleries. Access to Milwaukee's Maier Festival Grounds, best known for Summerfest , can be obtained from through this neighborhood. It is home to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design ,

2079-460: The Hoan Bridge . The Marquette Interchange is a prominent physical feature of Downtown Milwaukee and the regional transportation network. It is a major freeway interchange where Interstate 43 , Interstate 794 and Interstate 94 meet. Originally built in the 1960s, the interchange underwent a total rebuild between 2004 and 2008, and was officially opened on August 19, 2008, after what was at

SECTION 20

#1732787668052

2178-619: The Marquette Interchange in 1966. Milwaukee's urban renewal period saw the demolition of several historic landmarks including the Pabst Building , Lake Front Depot , and Everett Street Depot . Efforts to revive Downtown's economy came under Mayor Henry Maier in the form of the construction of the MECCA Arena , MECCA Great Hall , U.S. Bank Center and Henry Maier Festival Park . Maier's successor John Norquist

2277-655: The Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team of Marquette University . Construction began in 2016, with the arena officially opening its doors in 2018. Taxpayers contributed $ 250 million towards the total construction cost of $ 524 million. The city of Milwaukee sold the land in downtown Milwaukee for $ 1 to the team. Despite being one of

2376-707: The Milwaukee Public Market , the Broadway Theatre Center and Milwaukee Riverwalk . The neighborhood is now home to several high-end restaurants and national retailers. The area is one of the best served by public transit in Milwaukee including the Milwaukee County Transit System and The Hop . The majority of the historic structures in the neighborhood have been redeveloped and by the 2020s the remaining surface parking lots became targeted for redevelopment by

2475-834: The Milwaukee Public Museum , Pabst Brewery Complex , Fiserv Forum , the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena , the Milwaukee County Courthouse , the Wisconsin Club and Old World Third Street. In 2013, The Moderne opened to residents, the structure is the tallest in the Westown neighborhood and the tallest in Wisconsin west of the Milwaukee River . The Westown neighborhood has seen a substantial amount of redevelopment since

2574-616: The Park East Corridor on November 23, while acknowledging possible parking problems in the area. On April 13, 2016, the Bucks signed a 30-year lease to play in the new arena. In addition, Marquette University has agreed to lease the arena for its home games, beginning in 2018. Unlike Marquette's previous agreement with the Bradley Center, the lease agreement with Fiserv Forum ends in the spring of 2025, allowing Marquette

2673-639: The Santiago Calatrava designed wing of the Milwaukee Art Museum and Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons . Downtown Milwaukee's residential population saw significant growth in the 2000s and 2010s. Downtown Milwaukee covers an area of 2.5 square miles with a recorded population of 26,710 in 2020. The district includes several neighborhoods with distinctive land use patterns, architectural styles and histories. East Town, Westown, Historic Third Ward , Lower East Side , Yankee Hill are

2772-947: The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park . Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest . The Manistee National Forest section of the shoreline includes the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness . The Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is also within the lake, as are the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge and

2871-535: The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary . There are numerous state and local parks located on the shores of the lake or on islands within the lake: Lake Michigan is home to a small variety of fish species and other organisms. It was originally home to lake whitefish , lake trout , yellow perch , panfish , largemouth bass , smallmouth bass and bowfin , as well as some species of catfish . As

2970-604: The Wisconsin State Assembly approved funding by a 52–34 margin. On August 12, 2015, Governor Scott Walker signed the arena spending plan at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis , Wisconsin . The Milwaukee city council voted 12–3 on September 22, 2015, to approve the plan. The city's Plan Commission gave unanimous conditional approval to the Bucks' general development plans for land in

3069-519: The 1950s and 60s. Today most of Downtown Milwaukee's major office and residential developments are located in East Town. The U.S. Bank Center , Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons , 100 East Wisconsin and University Club Tower are all located in the neighborhood. Most of the stops on The Hop are located in the East Town neighborhood. The neighborhood also contains the Cathedral of St. John

Downtown Milwaukee - Misplaced Pages Continue

3168-456: The 2000s and especially 2010s, registering the largest population growth, by percentage, of any Milwaukee neighborhood over that time. The area that is now Downtown Milwaukee was once likely home to members of the Winnebago, Menominee and Potawatomi tribes. The Potawatomi was the dominant tribe in the area when French explorers first began to venture into this territory. In the years following

3267-449: The 2000s with major employers like Fiserv and Milwaukee Tool announcing high-profile office relocations to the neighborhood. The Shops of Grand Avenue underwent a major renovation project between 2019 and 2022, eventually reopening to the public in 2022 as The Avenue (Milwaukee) and anchored by a ground floor food hall with apartments and office space above. Newaukee, a local social architecture firm has hosted popular street fairs during

3366-453: The Bradley Center. The Bradley Center's board of directors told state officials that the building needed $ 40 million in renovations, so they reportedly agreed to raise the remaining $ 35 million on their own. On September 18, 2013, then-deputy NBA commissioner Adam Silver toured the arena and said it was a few thousand square feet short of NBA standards, and also lacked numerous amenities. On April 16, 2014, Kohl announced an agreement to sell

3465-517: The Bucks announced Fiserv Forum is the central building in the 30-acre development district around the arena newly named " Deer District ." In February 2019, Johnson Controls unveiled a three-dimensional statue of their logo placed outside the Fiserv Forum, which can glow in multiple colors at night, and will specifically turn green after every Bucks victory. Fiserv Forum holds 17,500 people and has fewer luxury suites, but more club seating than

3564-585: The Evangelist and Old St. Mary's Church which have survived from the early days of Milwaukee. The East Town Neighborhood Association hosts Jazz in the Park, an outdoor music concert series at Cathedral Square Park . The area has become the center of Milwaukee nightlife featuring several trendy nightclubs, and outdoor upscale eateries. In summer, East Town sponsors the Parisian festival Bastille Days and in winter

3663-575: The Fiserv Forum also hosted Game 6 of the NBA Finals , where the Bucks would clinch their first NBA championship in 50 years, beating the Suns 105–98. The Bucks have had substantial success at Fiserv Forum since it opened, compiling a regular season record of 161–45 (.782 winning percentage) at the Forum. On July 15–18, 2024, the Forum hosted the 2024 Republican National Convention . On August 20, 2024,

3762-532: The Fiserv Forum during the preseason against the Chicago Bulls on October 3, 2018, a 116–82 Bucks victory. The Forum's regular-season home opener was played on October 19, 2018, against the Indiana Pacers . The Bucks won, 118–101. The Bucks' first season in the Forum was a great success, with the Bucks finishing the regular season with their first 60-win season since 1980–81. They also went 33–8 at

3861-399: The Fiserv Forum would host the 2020 Democratic National Convention from July 13 to 16, 2020. It was later postponed to August 17–20, 2020, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the United States . On June 24, 2020, it was announced that the convention would be downsized and instead held at the nearby Wisconsin Center . On February 22, 2020, the Bucks set a new attendance record for

3960-532: The Forum hosted a campaign rally with the Democratic Party's nominees, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz , that coincided with the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago 's United Center , located approximately 80 miles (130 km) away. On July 26, 2018, the Bucks agreed to a 25-year naming rights deal with Fiserv , a financial services technology company based in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield . The Killers with Violent Femmes were

4059-528: The Forum, the second-best home record in the NBA. On April 14, 2019, the Forum hosted its first NBA playoff game, Game 1 of the first round between the Bucks and the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks won, 121–86. On December 22, 2019, the Bucks had their 50th consecutive sellout at the Forum, the longest such streak in franchise history, which started on November 16, 2018. On March 11, 2019, it was announced that

Downtown Milwaukee - Misplaced Pages Continue

4158-618: The Forum, when 18,290 attended to watch the Bucks play the Philadelphia 76ers . The Bucks won 119–98. This record was broken less than a week later, on February 28, 2020, as 18,412 fans watched the Bucks face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder . The Bucks won 133–86. On July 11, 2021, Fiserv Forum hosted its first NBA Finals game, Game 3 between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns . The Bucks won 120–100. On July 20,

4257-739: The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, which harvest 50 percent of the Great Lakes commercial catch in Michigan waters, and 45 state-licensed commercial fishing enterprises. The prime commercial species is the lake whitefish. The annual harvest declined from an average of 11 million pounds (5,000,000 kg) from 1981 through to 1999 to more recent annual harvests of 8 to 9.5 million pounds (3,600,000 to 4,300,000 kg). The price for lake whitefish dropped from $ 1.04/lb. to as low as $ 0.40/lb during periods of high production. Sports fishing includes salmon, whitefish, smelt , lake trout and walleye as major catches. In

4356-736: The Great Lakes by way of the Erie Canal and Hudson River in New York. The Erie Canal connects to the Great Lakes at the east end of Lake Erie (at Buffalo, New York ) and at the south side of Lake Ontario (at Oswego, New York ). The lake fluctuates from month to month with the highest lake levels typically occurring in summer. The normal high-water mark is 2.00 feet (0.61 m) above datum ( 577.5 ft (176.0 m) ). In October 1986, Lakes Michigan and Huron reached their highest level at 5.92 feet (1.80 m) above datum. The monthly average high-water records were broken for several months in

4455-461: The Holiday City of Lights. The Yankee Hill neighborhood encompass the eastern portion of downtown Milwaukee's central business district from Jackson Avenue to the west, Lake Michigan to the east, Ogden Avenue (i.e., the lower East Side) to the north and State Street to the south. Yankee Hill is a key part of the East Town neighborhood, situated within East Town's boundaries, but closer to

4554-505: The Michigan state stone, can be found. The beaches of the western coast and the northernmost part of the east coast are often rocky, with some sandy beaches. The southern and eastern beaches are typically sandy and dune-covered. This is partly because of the prevailing winds from the west (which also cause thick layers of ice to build on the eastern shore in winter). The Chicago city waterfront has been developed for parks, beaches , harbors and marinas, and residential developments connected by

4653-481: The Port District, Calumet Harbor , is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . Two passenger and vehicle ferries operate ferry services across Lake Michigan, both connecting Wisconsin on the western shore with Michigan on the east. From May to October, the historic steamship, SS  Badger , operates daily between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan, connecting U.S. Highway 10 between

4752-555: The Wisconsin Center. Populous and HNTB , two firms from Kansas City, lead the arena design team with participation from Milwaukee firm Eppstein Uhen Architects. The arena is intended to be the focal point of a "live block" zone that includes public space surrounded by both commercial and residential development. Initial renderings of the arena showed a transparent facade and a curved roof and side meant to evoke

4851-414: The Wisconsin and Michigan shores. Hydrologically Michigan and Huron are the same body of water (sometimes called Lake Michigan-Huron ) but are normally considered distinct. Counted together, it is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. The Mackinac Bridge is generally considered the dividing line between them. The main inflow to Lake Michigan from Lake Superior, through Lake Huron,

4950-492: The arrangement. Former Bucks owner and former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl proposed building a new downtown arena to replace the Bradley Center. There was considerable discussion in the region about the idea of a publicly funded arena and ultimately no resolution was reached. In 2009, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle included a provision in the state's capital budget seeking $ 5 million in state bonding support to renovate

5049-534: The arrival of the French and the development of the fur trade industry, the native population rapidly declined. French fur trader Jacques Vieau was the first European to establish a permanent structure in Milwaukee in 1795. In 1835, land belonging to the Native Americans was ceded to the United States, thus opening the region to further colonial settlement. By the 1840s, the area that is now Downtown Milwaukee

SECTION 50

#1732787668052

5148-487: The city and developers. 333 North Water is a 31-story residential high-rise located in the northwest portion of the neighborhood across the street from the Milwaukee Public Market . Westown is an area west of the Milwaukee River and downtown, bounded by Interstate 794 to the south, Marquette University to the west, McKinley Avenue to the north, and the Milwaukee River to the east. The neighborhood comprises

5247-504: The city of Milwaukee . The area is also home to the Milwaukee Riverwalk which opened in 1993 and now extends 3.1 miles along both sides of the Milwaukee River, from the former North Avenue Dam, through Downtown and the Historic Third Ward to Lake Michigan . The Milwaukee Riverwalk is regarded as a catalyst in the redevelopment of Downtown Milwaukee and its reconnection to the Milwaukee River . Henry Maier Festival Park

5346-611: The deep bottom of Lake Michigan was J. Val Klump , a scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1985. Klump reached the bottom via submersible as part of a research expedition. The warming of Lake Michigan was the subject of a 2018 report by Purdue University . In each decade since 1980, steady increases in obscure surface temperature have occurred. This is likely to lead to decreasing native habitat and to adversely affect native species survival, including game fish. The Milwaukee Reef , running under Lake Michigan from

5445-616: The first concert at Fiserv Forum on September 4, 2018. On December 28, 2021, Fiserv Forum held its first ice hockey games with the inaugural Holiday Face–Off tournament. On October 2, 2022, Fiserv Forum held its first National Hockey League game, the Chicago Blackhawks played the Minnesota Wild as part of the Blackhawks "Home Away from Home" series. The arena also continues a Milwaukee tradition for being

5544-436: The following few hundred years, the region was the home of peoples known as the Late Woodland Native Americans . In the early 17th century, when Western European explorers made their first forays into the region, they encountered descendants of the Late Woodland Native Americans, mainly the historic Chippewa , Menominee , Sauk , Fox , Winnebago , Miami , Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples. The French explorer Jean Nicolet

5643-422: The franchise to New York City hedge-fund investors Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens . The deal included provisions for $ 100 million each from Kohl and the new ownership group, for a total of $ 200 million, toward the construction of a new downtown arena. The NBA then informed the Bucks that the franchise wouldn't be allowed to renew their lease on the Bradley Center, which would expire after the 2017–18 season, and that

5742-408: The heart of Milwaukee's Italian community, even being called "Milwaukee's Little Italy". But before World War II, it was largely home to Polish immigrants. In fact, historic St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church, a long-time Polish church, which was built in 1871, stands at the corner of Brady Street and Humboldt Avenue. In the 1960s, Italians and other assimilated groups began to leave the neighborhood for

5841-410: The jurisdiction of the Milwaukee County Parks System. They include Veterans Park, Cathedral Square Park, Juneau Park, Catalano Square, Zeidler Union Square, MacArthur Square, Pere Marquette Park, Red Arrow Park, Burns Commons, Marshall Park, McKinley Park, Back Bay Park, Pulaski Park and Brady Street Park. Downtown Milwaukee is home to Lakefront State Park, one of two Wisconsin State Park properties in

5940-640: The lake and north of downtown. Yankee Hill is home to the Milwaukee School of Engineering and several large residential complexes. In the 1950s, the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority cleared 223 buildings and displaced more than 1,000 residents. Thirty city square blocks were cleared in preparation for the construction of a never built interstate highway. The area has since recovered with the construction of thousands of new apartments in major projects like Ascent MKE , Yankee Hill and Juneau Village complexes. The neighborhood saw 251% population growth between 2000 and 2020. Once home to Irish, and then, Italian immigrants,

6039-451: The lake during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In the 19th century, Lake Michigan was integral to the development of Chicago and the Midwestern United States west of the lake. For example, 90% of the grain shipped from Chicago traveled by ships east over Lake Michigan during the antebellum years. The volume rarely fell below 50% after the Civil War even with the major expansion of railroad shipping . The first person to reach

SECTION 60

#1732787668052

6138-431: The lakes that are too large to pass the locks and enter the ocean. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze in winter, interrupting most shipping. Some icebreakers ply the lakes. Lake Michigan is connected by the Illinois Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois River and the Mississippi River. Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy. Pleasure boats can enter or exit

6237-419: The largest lake entirely within one country by surface area ( Lake Baikal in Russia is larger by water volume) and the fifth-largest lake in the world. It is the larger half of Lake Michigan–Huron , which is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. It is 307 miles (494 km) long by 118 miles (190 km) wide with a shoreline 1,640 miles (2,640 km) long. The lake's average depth

6336-405: The late 1960s, successful stocking programs for Pacific salmon led to the development of Lake Michigan's charter fishing industry. Like all of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is today used as a major mode of transport for bulk goods. In 2002, 162 million net tons of dry bulk cargo were moved via the Lakes. This was, in order of volume: iron ore, grain and potash . The iron ore and much of

6435-439: The late 19th and early 20th Centuries, Milwaukee welcomed a succession of immigrant groups from Germany , Poland , Ireland and Mexico causing the population to rise exponentially. Downtown Milwaukee served as the center of the region's economic engine with ships docking along the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers and loading their goods into warehouses in the Historic Third Ward and along Water Street. In 1895, Milwaukee City Hall

6534-446: The lower water levels in 2013 were a combination of the "lack of a large snowpack" in the winter of 2011/2012 coupled with very hot and dry conditions in the summer of 2012. Since then water levels rebounded, rising more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) to historical record high levels. Lake Michigan, like the other Great Lakes, supplies drinking water to millions of people in bordering areas. The Great Lakes are collectively administered by

6633-458: The mid-19th century. Several ferries currently operate on the Great Lakes to carry passengers to various islands, including Beaver Island and Bois Blanc Island (Michigan) . Currently, two car ferry services traverse Lake Michigan from around April to November: the SS Badger, a steamer from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and the Lake Express , a high speed catamaran from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan. The Great Lakes Circle Tour ,

6732-488: The neighborhood. The Hop is a 2.1 mile modern streetcar system which provides free public transportation to residents and visitors of the neighborhood. The system contains 1 line with 18 stops. There are plans to extend the system but as of 2022 they remain unfunded and service is contained within Downtown. Service on The Hop began in November, 2018. The neighborhood is regionally connected by Interstate 794 , Interstate 43 , Interstate 94 , U.S. Route 18 in Wisconsin and

6831-438: The new Chase Center in San Francisco , beginning with the 2019–20 season . The funds for the building of the BMO Harris Bradley Center were donated by Jane Bradley Pettit and husband Lloyd Pettit without any provision for the building's long-term capital needs or annual operating expenses. Although the facility was self-sufficient, its tenants, such as the Bucks, were at a disadvantage compared with other NBA teams because of

6930-443: The north, the lake is flanked by long bays , including Green Bay in the northwest, and Grand Traverse and Little Traverse bays in the northeast. The word michigan is believed to come from the Ojibwe ᒥᓯᑲᒥ ( michi-gami or mishigami ), meaning "great water". Some of the most well-studied early human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Native Americans . Their culture declined after 800 AD, when, for

7029-454: The northern side is St. Ignace, Michigan , site of a French Catholic mission to the Indians (founded in 1671). In 1673, Jacques Marquette , Louis Jolliet , and their crew of five Métis voyageurs followed Lake Michigan to Green Bay and up the Fox River , nearly to its headwaters , in their search for the Mississippi River . By the late 18th century, the eastern portions of the straits were controlled by Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island ,

7128-450: The option to decide to pursue the building of its own smaller arena for lesser-attended match-ups, and to only utilize the Fiserv Forum for larger Big East Conference and Badgers-Golden Eagles rivalry games. The official groundbreaking was during the 2nd annual Bucks Block Party on June 18, 2016. On May 2, 2017, Bucks president Peter Feigin stated that construction of the arena remained on schedule and on budget. Feigin's announcement

7227-466: The original Kilbourn Town in what is now downtown Milwaukee. The Shops of Grand Avenue , Wisconsin Center and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra are located on Wisconsin Avenue, the primary east-west avenue in the city. Westown suffered heavily during Milwaukee's urban renewal period with hundreds of historic structures demolished in an attempt to revive the area. Other attractions in this neighborhood include

7326-433: The original Pabst tied house taverns, is still located on Brady Street, though the vintaged beer signs outside read "Blatz". This tavern was built in 1890 and is unique in that it was designed by architect Otto Strack, who also designed Milwaukee's Pabst Theater. Today, Lower East Side is filled with coffee houses, nightclubs, restaurants, vintage clothing, and thrift stores. Lower East Side is often associated with being once

7425-552: The premier NBA facilities when completed in 1988, the BMO Harris Bradley Center was one of the oldest active NBA arenas by the end of the Bucks' tenancy in 2018. Only Madison Square Garden in New York City and Oakland Arena in Oakland were older than the Bradley Center; however, both Madison Square Garden and Oakland Arena were substantially renovated during their lifetimes, with Oakland Arena eventually being replaced by

7524-428: The primary neighborhoods within Downtown Milwaukee. East Town is the traditional core financial district while Westown has adopted a more transportation and cultural activity based profile. The Third Ward and Lower East Side are primarily residential and retail districts adjacent to the Downtown core. East Town is a neighborhood bounded by Lake Michigan to the east, the Milwaukee River to the west, Interstate 794 to

7623-399: The rise of suburbanization and the decline of traditional downtown areas. Downtown Milwaukee suffered acutely from the effects of urban renewal and suburbanization. In the 1950s, regional highway construction began which entailed the demolition of hundreds of structures in Downtown and thousands citywide. The capstone of this regional Interstate Highway construction project was the completion of

7722-524: The shoreline, the dunes rise several hundred feet above the lake surface. Large dune formations can be seen in many state parks, national forests and national parks along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline. Some of the most expansive and unique dune formations can be found at Indiana Dunes National Park , Saugatuck Dunes State Park , Warren Dunes State Park , Hoffmaster State Park , Silver Lake State Park , Ludington State Park , and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore . Small dune formations can be found on

7821-574: The site of the New Year's Eve game for the Harlem Globetrotters , with 2020 being the only pause in decades. It served as the site for the 2024 Republican National Convention . The Milwaukee Bucks released the first images and details of their vision for the development of a new multi-purpose arena and sports and entertainment district to revitalize downtown Milwaukee on April 8, 2015. The images depicted early conceptual drawings of

7920-423: The south and State Street to the north. was formerly known as the historic Juneau Town settlement, which had competed with the neighboring Kilbourn Town (present-day Westown) for people and resources. With the Milwaukee River as the division, these two "towns" have remarkably different feels. East Town is regarded as a more vibrant, densely populated area and one less severely impacted by the urban renewal efforts of

8019-412: The states and the two provinces, and the enactment of a United States federal law. Environmental problems can still plague the lake. Steel mills and refineries operate near the Indiana shoreline. The Chicago Tribune reported that BP is a major polluter, dumping thousands of pounds of raw sludge into the lake every day from its Whiting, Indiana , oil refinery. In March 2014 BP's Whiting refinery

8118-620: The stone and coal are used in the steel industry. There is also some shipping of liquid and containerized cargo, but most container vessels cannot pass the locks on the Saint Lawrence Seaway because the ships are too wide. The total amount of shipping on the lakes has been on a downward trend for several years. The Port of Chicago , operated by the Illinois International Port District , has grain (14 million bushels) and bulk liquid (800,000 barrels) storage facilities along Lake Calumet . The central element of

8217-416: The suburbs, while the hippies and other bohemians moved in. The 1980s saw blight, neglect and decay, but now the area has been revitalized and has become a model for New Urbanism. Starting in the late 1990s, most of the bohemian population moved to Riverwest and Bay View. But this neighborhood still exhibits a strong, albeit upscale, independent flair. Downtown Milwaukee has several major parks which are under

8316-522: The summer months on Wisconsin Avenue since 2014. Lower East Side is a neighborhood North of Downtown and East of Riverwest. It is bounded by the Milwaukee River on the west, Lake Michigan on the east, North Avenue on the north and Odgen Street on the south. Brady Street itself runs west from Prospect Avenue (overlooking the Lake) to Water Street. In the 1880s, Brady Street became a commercial district of Yankee and German owned shops. Regano's Roman Coin, one of

8415-533: The team needed to have either a new arena completed or under construction by the beginning of 2018, or the franchise would be bought from Lasry and Edens, then sold to another ownership group, either in Las Vegas or Seattle, which would mean the certain departure of the Bucks from Milwaukee. On July 15, 2015, the Wisconsin Senate approved funding for the new arena by a 21–10 margin, and on July 28, 2015,

8514-416: The third-largest by surface area (22,405 sq mi (58,030 km )), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron . To the east, its basin is conjoined with that of Lake Huron through the wide and deep Straits of Mackinac , giving it the same surface elevation as its easterly counterpart; geologically, the two bodies are a single lake that is, by area, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Lake Michigan

8613-598: The time the largest construction project in state history. It is the second busiest freeway interchange in the State of Wisconsin behind the Zoo Interchange . Lake Michigan Lake Michigan ( / ˈ m ɪ ʃ ɪ ɡ ən / MISH -ig-ən ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America . It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume (1,180 cu mi (4,900 km )) and depth (923 ft (281 m)) after Lake Superior and

8712-502: The two cities. The Lake Express , established in 2004, carries passengers and vehicles across the lake between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan. Tourism and recreation are major industries on all of the Great Lakes. A few small cruise ships operate on Lake Michigan, including a couple of sailing ships. Many other water sports are practiced on the lakes, such as yachting, sea kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and lake surfing. Great Lakes passenger steamers have been operating since

8811-496: The vitality of native fish populations. Fisheries in inland waters of the United States are small compared to marine fisheries. The largest fisheries are the landings from the Great Lakes, worth about $ 14 million in 2001. Michigan's commercial fishery today consists mainly of 150 tribe-licensed commercial fishing operations through the Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority and tribes belonging to

8910-417: The water forms of nearby Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River . "Herb Kohl Way" was unveiled on the plaza outside of Fiserv Forum on August 26, 2018, to pay tribute to the former Bucks owner for his contributions leading up to the building of the arena. The plaza is home to restaurants and a beer garden, where people can gather year-round to watch sporting events on a large, outdoor television. In May 2019,

9009-418: The water is usually clear and cool, between 55 and 80 °F (13 and 27 °C), even in the late summer months. However, because prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, there is a flow of warmer water to the Michigan shore in the summer. The sand dunes located on the east shore of Lake Michigan are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. In multiple locations along

9108-729: The western shore of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park , and moderate-sized dune formations can be found in Kohler-Andrae State Park and Point Beach State Forest in Wisconsin. A large dune formation can be found in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Wisconsin in the Door Peninsula . Lake Michigan beaches in Northern Michigan are the only place in the world, aside from a few inland lakes in that region, where Petoskey stones ,

9207-625: The wildlife population. This program was so successful that the introduced population of trout and salmon exploded, resulting in the creation of a large sport fishery for these introduced species. Lake Michigan is now stocked annually with steelhead, brown trout, and coho and chinook salmon, which have also begun natural reproduction in some Lake Michigan tributaries. However, several introduced invasive species, such as lampreys, round goby , zebra mussels and quagga mussels , continue to cause major changes in water clarity and fertility, resulting in knock-on changes to Lake Michigan's ecosystem, threatening

9306-571: Was constructed, becoming the tallest building in the city and giving the city a prominent physical feature. Other large buildings were constructed in the early 20th century including the Daniel Burnham designed First National Bank Building, 19-story AT&T Center (Milwaukee) , Pabst Building , Cudahy Tower and the Wisconsin Gas Building , Milwaukee's most prominent Art Deco tower. Milwaukee followed national trends with

9405-605: Was eclipsed in January 2013. In January 2013, Lake Michigan's monthly mean water levels dipped to an all-time low of 576.2 ft (175.6 m), reaching their lowest ebb since record keeping began in 1918. The lakes were 29 in (0.74 m) below their long-term average and had declined 17 inches since January 2012. Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ' district office in Detroit , explained that biggest factors leading to

9504-419: Was from the site of the new arena, after the first roof truss was installed and bolted into place. The roof was officially topped off on August 24, 2017. On August 26, 2018, Fiserv Forum was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 4th annual Bucks Block Party. The first live event at Fiserv Forum was The Killers with Violent Femmes on September 4, 2018. The Bucks played their inaugural game at

9603-495: Was opened for public use in 1970. It plays a central component in Metropolitan Milwaukee's cultural space and is a major driver for the regional tourist economy. Downtown Milwaukee is the hub of the Milwaukee County Transit System which is the largest transit agency in the state of Wisconsin. The majority of the system's bus lines run through downtown and there are several transit points between lines located in

9702-633: Was responsible for spilling more than 1,600 US gallons (6,100 L) of oil into the lake. Lake Michigan has many beaches. The region is often referred to as the " Third Coast " of the United States, after those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean . The sand is often soft and off-white, known as " singing sands " because of the squeaking noise (caused by high quartz content) it emits when walked upon. Some beaches have sand dunes covered in green beach grass and sand cherries , and

9801-467: Was settled and developed by three primary actors. They were Solomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn and George Walker. Their identities continue to define Downtown Milwaukee with Kilbourn known for Kilbourntown (Westown), Juneau for East Town and Walker for what is today Walkers Point. In 1845, following the Bridge War, the different neighborhoods were merged into a jointly governed City of Milwaukee . Through

#51948