Cheryl & Larry's 2015 Journey: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Dells, WI

OK, now we'e in Wisconsin!

Leinenkugel's Brewery is located in Chippewa Falls. 6 generations of Leinenkugel's have been running the business. Brewery was started in 1876 by Jacob. Today it is part of the MillerCoors conglomerate. They still are a small craft beer brewery. Tour was interesting but the sampling was better.

Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, Eau Claire - logging was a significant industry to the start of WI even before it had beer and cheese! 1st saw mill was built in Eau Claire in 1846 and by 1880 there were mills in Eau Claire than anywhere in the world. It became known as the "Sawdust City". 1899 - 1904 WI led the nation in lumber production, unfortunately by 1929 they had depleted the forests and the last saw mill closed.
Today with better forest management forests cover 46% of the states area and lumber has come back.

The Phoenix Steam Hauler - invented by a Maine blacksmith and built by Phoenix Mfg. Co., Eau Claire. This steam driven track machine transformed lumbering in the late 1800's. The track design was used to build tanks for WWI and concept still used today's modern equipment.

Of course we had to visit the kids area of the museum!!!

Hank Aaron began his professional career playing for the Eau Claire Bears, class C ball club in 1952 at 18 years old. Two years later he joined the Milwaukee Braves. Carson Park Baseball Stadium was built as a WPA project in 1936-37 for $60,000. It is listed on the National Historical Registry. The stone face is all local WI limestone.

Chippewa Falls had a very nice "free" zoo located in Irvine Park. This Peacock decided to show off his colors!!!!!

Now we continued eastward to Wisconsin Dells, better know as the "Water-park Capital". Reminded us of going to the Jersey / Delaware shores when the kids were young.

The show was created in 1952 by Wisconsin showman Tommy Bartlett as a traveling group of entertainers, based in Chicago, Illinois. After changing its base of operations to Wisconsin Dells, the performers continued to tour, performing at World's Fairs and U.S.O. shows. Over 20 million spectators have seen the show since its creation. Bartlett himself apparently only water-skied once, on his 70th birthday, 32 years after the show's creation. Performers were good and put on a entertaining show.