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Period: 100 to
First humans in the Midwest (Paleo-Indians)
Retreat of the last continental glacier -
Period: 100 to
Woodland Indians
semi-nomadic small seasonal villages and camps -
Period: to
Early settlement by French Canadians
Jacques Vieau's trading post at what is now Mitchell Park, Ottowa & Potawatomi fishing and harvesting wild plants along the rivers, canoes -
Jacques Vieau sets up trading post at Mitchell Park
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First railroad is built in the Valley
Amongst dense marsh and soft land, Kilbourn founds the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad and expands to the Mississippi. -
Processing begins in the Menomonee Valley
Harbor improvements for agricultural prodcts from the west, finished goods from the east. The Menomonee Valley is home for processing where wheat turns to flour, barley and hops into beer, and hogs and cattle into meat and leather. -
Menomonee Valley Improvements
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Period: to
1869 - 1900: Valley Improvements
Canals and landfill create 1,400 acres of manmade land in the Valley. The north rim of the Valley was lowered by as much as 60 feet. -
Period: to
Menomonee Valley Improvements
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Period: to
The Milwaukee Road Shops
From 1879 to 1985, the Valley was the location of the Milwaukee Road Shops, an enormous complex that made rail cars and locomotives for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. In the 1900s, the Milwaukee Road was one of the largest employers in Milwaukee with nearly 3,000 employees. Many lived in the neighborhoods nearby and walked to work. -
Period: to
The Machine Shop of the World
Metal factories grow from small shops to large factories. -
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Period: to
WWII and Economic Decline
Peak valley employment is transformed by WWII leading to a long period of decline. -
WWII and Economic Decline
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The Milwaukee Road Railroad company files for bankruptcy
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Period: to
Uncoordinated Redevelopment Attampts
Uncoordinated redevelopment plans included entertainment complexes, retail, theme parks, golf course, etc. -
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Construction of the Hank Aaron State Trail
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Public private partnership drives new plan
The Menomonee Valley Business Association, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, and Menomonee Valley Partners begin development in the Valley. -
Period: to
Public-Private Partnership to redevelop the Valley
Menomonee Valley Partners is created in 1998 as part of the Menomonee Valley Area Comprehensive Plan with the City of Milwaukee. -
Valley called "Wisconsin's worst eyesore"
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National Design Competition
A national design competition was held for development of the abandoned site, 140 acres of environmentally degraded land now known as "Wisconsin's worst eyesore." -
Harley-Davidson Museum Opens, Hill Climber installed
The Hill Climber is installed as a donation from the Davidson family <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/TqetXrH0a3M?hl=en_GB&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/TqetXrH0a3M?hl=en_GB&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> -
A Place To Sit
kathryn e. martin installs the high-back chairs of A Place to Sit in honor of the spirit and people of Wisconsin's American Indian tribes. "In their tradition of cooperating with others to share in the bounty of the Menomonee Valley, all are invited to gather and share in the rich history and promising future of this area. -
Valley Passage Opens
More information on the Valley PassageChad Brady, a Wisconsin artist, completed the murals in Summer 2011, the murals depict the Valley of yesterday and today. -
Hank Aaron State Trail extended
The trail is extended through to the Waukesha County Line. This extension enables cyclists to easily connects with many of the region's existing bike trails. -
Urban Ecology Center opens Menomonee Valley branch
Just at the edge of the Valley Passage, the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center is a piece of art on its own, once a vacant tavern at 37th and Pierce streets, the branch serves as the gateway to the Valley from the South side telling the story of the Valley to visitors from around the country.
