Milwaukee’s Melting Pot

A new exhibit about the immigrants who settled Wisconsin.
Who they were. Why they came.

Between 1836 and 1850, Wisconsin’s population increased from a mere 11,000 in 1836 to over 305,000 by 1850. Most arrived by ship and the North Point Lighthouse was the first thing they saw when they arrived in Milwaukee.

Discover the history of the immigrants who settled Milwaukee. Read about who they were and why they came. See some of the luggage that held the worldly possessions of an immigrant from Austria. Share stories about your ancestors about where they came from and when they came to America.

The North Point Lighthouse Museum’s Manifest of Ancestors.

Part of the exhibit includes a ledger where visitors can record their ancestor’s names, country of origin and the year they arrived in America. Below is a list of names that have appeared on the ledgers.

  • Luigi And Gesvalda Sapienza, Italy 1912
  • Frances and Peter Markowski, Poland 910
  • Barta and Dorthea Cisler, Bohemia 1869
  • Jakob Zawertany, Ukraine 1913
  • Adolph Sandsmark, Norway 1918
  • Nels Spersrud, Norway 1870
  • Robert Inkster, Burra Isle, Sheltand, Scotland 1786
  • Bridget and Steven Topah, Budapest, Hungary 1912
  • Jack Shannon, Ireland 1803
  • Elmer Haselow, Germany 1900
  • Anna Gottfridson Visingo, Sweden 1888
  • Svate Andreson Gron, Aslata, Sweden 1889
  • Carl Frederik Resburg Amimskog, Sweden 1894
  • Hulda Hallquist, Smoland Sweden 1891
  • Henrik Osmundson, Kristiansand, Norway 1886
  • Andreas Hendikson and Inger Dyphom, Hjartal, Norway 1900
  • Kjetil Olson, Hjartal, Norway 1905
  • Robert La Rock and daughter Stella, Montreal, Canada 1860
  • Coleman, Ireland 1890
  • Starr, Lithuainia 1900
  • Janke, Prussia 1890
  • Wenzeslaus Klink, Germany 1850
  • Ninian Masson, Scotland 1845
  • Jensina Grass, Denmark 1898
  • Bryon Peck, Belgium 1843
  • Johnathan Lee, England 1630
  • Elizabeth Reiss, Hungary 1850
  • Kremm and Makieowitz, Germany, Wales, Austria 1844, 1877
  • John Brynada, Bohemia 1880
  • Massimo And Caroline Finlando (changed to Finn), Italy 1913 and 1915
  • Carl and Anna Deisinger, Bohemia 1855
  • Louis Chadim (changed to Chatham), Bohemia 1870
  • Giovanni and Anna (no last name), Italy 1910
  • Joseph, Sitamna, and Paul DeQuardo, Italy 1926
  • Hilma M.Peterson Hogsby, Sweden via Liverpool 1880
  • Augusta Groth, Germany 1854
  • Josef Voltuer, Bohemia 1902
  • Shuiwang Liu, China 1881
  • Koji Yoda, Japan 1959
  • Mary Frinks, Germany
  • Killian Weisecjki, Germany
  • Sitler, Germany 1654
  • Heinrich Meir, Germany 1865
  • Fredrick, Maria, August, Whilhem, Otto, Carl Kohn (changed to Kuehn) Stettin Germany (Prussia) 1855
  • August Minzlaff, Germany 1889
  • Johann Marten Kuper Jr. (changed to Cooper), Germany 1737
  • Selena Daubner Caistor, Lincolnshire, England 1869
  • Edward August Gross, Berlin, Germany 1891
  • August Wilhelm Kamrath Stoddard, Germany 1868
  • Rocco Turdo, Sicily 1910
  • Benjamin Von Westerreldt Napier, Edinburg, Scotland 1800
  • Karol F. Hinca, Czechoslovakia 1900
  • Dale A. Nowakowski, Poland 1946
  • Magdalena Durst, Luxemburg 1882
  • Augustus Obermann, Bavaria 1911
  • John Neibler, Bavaria 1850
  • Cornilius Enright, Ireland 1849
  • Giuseppe Perruquet, Italy 1907
  • Johann (Laursen) Damgaard Viborg, Denmark 1900
  • Iver Claussen, Austria 1896
  • Gustav Suessen, Germany 1937
  • William Comstock Exter, England 1635 (shipwrecked on Pemaquid Point, Maine on the “Angel Gabriel)

Public Hours

Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 pm. See “Visit/Admission” for closed dates.

 

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