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Berta and Elmer Hader's map of Wisconsin.
Berta and Elmer Hader's map of Wisconsin.
David Rumsey Map Collection

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Wisconsin's amazing history, in one annotated map

By Phil Edwards

How much has Wisconsin changed since 1932?

This map shows life and industry in Wisconsin as it existed in the 1930s. Courtesy of the David Rumsey Map Collection, it was made by illustrators Berta and Elmer Hader, in a series where they mapped all the states.

Tap or hover over the icons to learn more. You can see a larger version of the map here:

David Rumsey Map Collection

To those who know the state well, some things seem incredibly familiar — Devil's Lake is still a great place to spend the summer — but others have changed drastically.

The map shows how Wisconsin's changed — and how it's stayed the same.

For example, many of Wisconsin's old industries have disappeared, while new ones have popped up. Today, you'll find Trek Bikes, not Strand Skis, and health-care software companies like Epic Systems have taken the place of OshKosh Luggage.

But even though a lot of things have changed, just as many have stayed the same. The only problem with this map? It's missing beer and brats (and a Hodag or two).

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