In Photos: The history behind Wisconsin’s historical towns

Photos by Caroline Crowley.

By Caroline Crowley

A drive down nearly any Wisconsin town’s Main Street will reveal a beautiful, historic downtown district.

Most of these classic downtowns were built in the 19th century, and they are rich in history.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the development of the automobile and the rise of malls and shopping centers further from town centers endangered these historic downtowns. 

Many historic buildings were knocked down in the 1960s — others went out of business or struggled to survive.

In the late 20th century, many people took action to restore their small businesses. 

Wisconsin’s historic downtowns began to adapt and thrive once more.

During the pandemic, these small businesses struggled — but thanks to “shop small” initiatives, many were able to survive and thrive.