The History of Lake Winnebago

Winnebago Wars

Lake Winnebago is the largest lake that is entirely within the state of Wisconsin. It is also one of the largest inland lakes in the United States. It is part of a large system of lakes within Wisconsin known as Winnebago Pool. With its surface area of 137,700 acres, Lake Winnebago has a rich history to tell. 

The French explorers met with the Winnebago Tribe in 1634. Though their Algonquian neighbors called them Winnebago, the tribe called themselves Ho-Chunk. The name Winnebago meant “people of the filthy water.” This name was given to them due to Lake Winnebago having a strong fishy scent during summer. 

In 1827, lead miners began gathering in the area. Along with rumors that two Ho-Chunk prisoners were taken to a rival tribe for execution by the Americans, they retaliated. This sparked the Winnebago Uprising.

With most other Native Americans refusing to join the uprising, the uprising ended quickly. The chiefs of the Ho-Chunk tribe surrendered eight of their men who took part of the violence. This included Red Bird, who they believed led the uprising. Red Bird died in prison in 1828. 

After the war, the Ho-Chunk decided to surrender the region to the Americans. The Americans established Fort Winnebago and increased their military presence in the region. With the Winnebago Uprising in mind, some officials decided that the Americans and Indians cannot live peacefully together. 

Battle of the Bands

After the struggles of the Winnebago war, the native Americans did not simply idle. In April 1832, a band of Native Americans led by "Black Hawk" attacked the settlers. Black Hawk's group was further reinforced by other groups of native Americans known as the "Sauks", the "Meskwakis" and the "Kickapoos" and their army was known as the "British Band" 

Why the name "British Band"? Because in 1812, Black Hawk had an alliance with the British, particularly on the war aptly named "War of 1812". This was when the majority of the war consisted of the Europeans fighting Napoleon's forces. Black Hawk's band would raid and flee as the American forces advanced, but when the American forces were out of the fortresses and settlements, the other groups would continue the raid. 

Eventually, the American government mobilized a militia to put an end to Black Hawk’s attempts to harass the settlers. The militia was commanded by General Henry Atkinson and attacked Black Hawk’s group in the “Battle of Bad Axe”. The battle was in General Atkinson’s favor, dealing a decisive blow against Black Hawk. Black Hawk was able to escape after the battle, but soon enough, surrendered. 

Interestingly, The Lake Winnebago conflicts and escalations are what gave Abraham Lincoln his military service, though he never really stepped into the front lines. 

Time passed and the lake’s name remained. Perhaps a reminder of the struggles between the settlers and the natives. Water gives life and livelihood, even more so as a huge body of it. Yet we have to remember that it comes at a price.

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2018/02/the-history-of-lake-winnebago.html

Things to Do Near Silver Lake (Traverse City)

Silver lake is an enormous and beautiful lake that sits in the center of Traverse county Michigan. This massive lake, like many of the great lakes, was formed by the melting of glaciers throughout the years. If your wondering how deep is silver lake, The lake spans across 600 acres of land and has an average depth of 23 feet deep with the deepest part of the lake measuring over 90 feet deep. Silverlake is a beautiful sight to see with a lot to offer visitors interested in beautiful scenery and a great time!

History of Silverlake

Silverlake was slowly and gradually formed in the lower terrain of Michigan near the great lakes as glaciers began to melt and create lakes all around the Traverse County region. It joins with the Boardman river to flow into the Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse city. In 1965 a group of residents who owned property around the lake came together and created the Silverlake Improvement Association in an effort to maintain the lake's water quality and protect it from outside pollution. During this improvement there were also wood maps of Silver lake mapping out the entire area containing the lake. Today, the lake is known for its beautiful sights and fun things to do on and around the lake itself.

Things To Do At Silverlake

Aside from the beautiful scenery and views that Silverlake has to offer, there are also tons of activities and recreational things to do there as well. Fishing is particularly popular at Silverlake as it has an abundance of different types of fish. Fish such as perch, bluegill, bass and walleye are all popular residents at Silverlake. Some other fun activities to do at Silverlake include swimming, camping, canoeing. Swimming in the lake is a lot of fun because the water is just the right temperature in the summer months and parts of the lake are rather shallow allowing for smaller kids to enjoy it as well. The lake also has deeper parts to it where people like to dive and rope swing which is always a blast! Camping is also a fun activity that can be enjoyed at Silverlake due to the large amount of land surrounding the lake and sandy beach that encompasses it. Campers like to set up their camp right outside the perimeter of the lake where they can sleep under the stars and cook the fish they caught earlier in the lake over a nice fire. Canoeing is another recreational activity that can be fun to do at Silverlake as well. The calm waters of the vast lake make for a great canoe ride full of peace and tranquility. 

Nearby Landmarks

Nearby landmarks of Silverlake include Traverse city, Manitou pass and the ever famous lake Michigan. Traverse city is famous for its night scene and downtown stip of bars and restaurants. It is also a popular place for tourist's to travel due to its close proximity to Lake Michigan. Another popular landmark near Silverlake is the Manitou pass. The Manitou pass is the, often busy, pass that connects the main land to the Manitou islands. Silverlake is also relatively close to Lake Michigan which attracts more than 3 million out of state visitors during the summer months alone. 

Silverlake is truly a great place to visit and often overlooked. With its beautiful scenery and abundance of recreational activities available, silverlake is the perfect place for anyone to visit and have a great time!

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2018/02/things-to-do-near-silver-lake-traverse.html

Lake SKANEATELES History & Things To Do

Lake Skaneateles - Perfect Holiday Spot

The Lake

Lake Skaneateles located 23 miles outside of Syracuse in Onondaga County, is one of the six major Finger Lakes in New York. The lake sits in the heart of the Finger Lakes and was named by the Iroquois and means 'long lake'. The waters of the lake are pristine -- so clean that many local communities rely on it as their main unfiltered water source. The area around the lake is landscaped with protruding cliffs and serene pastures. The lake is 315 feet deep, 16 miles long and one and a half miles wide.

  

Skaneateles sits at the highest altitude of all of the Finger Lakes and stretches through the counties of Cortland, Cayuga and Onondaga. 

Locals and visitors enjoy scores of activities on the lake including fishing for a variety of species like pike, bass and trout. There are boat and jet ski rental agencies off its shores and excursions and cruises are also available. The lakefront Cliff Park is home to a lovely gazebo where concerts are held during the summer months. There is also a pier that juts out into the lake 500 feet. The pier is a great place for locals and visitors to drop their fishing lines and is also a prime location for photo opportunities.

 

The Village

The village of Skaneateles was founded in 1833, by Revolutionary War veterans who were awarded grants in exchange for their military service. The uniqueness of the village is seen in the architecture of its historic district where grain and dairy were the main stay for cultivation in 1830. By 1850, industry expanded to cloth and wool, brick, paper, bricks and iron, as well as the production of machinery, carriages, farm equipment, and sleighs. This was followed by industrial construction of sailboats, canoes and motor launches. 

The streets of the village are well kept and fringed with homes of the Neo-Renaissance Revival typical of the 19th Century. Many are historically linked to the Underground Railroad -- interconnected underground routes and residencies used during the 19th century to help slaves reach slave-free states. 

The town also has an assortment of shops and activities to keep visitors busy throughout their stay. There are hillside vineyards that host tours and wine tastings, great hiking trains for the young and old to experienced, museums and galleries, antique and specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars to please everyone's taste and budget. 

Visitors have no problem finding places to stay along lakeside or in the village. Options include renting cottages and cabins, bed and breakfast facilities, five-star hotels and budget motels. Many hotels are located in or near the village center near restaurants and shops. Most offer free parking and Internet access. Historic accommodations include The Sherwood Inn and The Benjamin Porter House. They include private baths, internet and cable televisions and continental breakfast. There are also pet-friendly accommodations like the Skaneateles Suites and Wicher Garden. 

For budget conscious seafood lovers, Doug's Fish Fry serves up tasty shrimp, clams and fried fish, as well as grilled and steamed seafood. The restaurant's menu also includes hotdogs and chicken. The Sherwood Inn adds a touch of class to the fine dining experience and offers an array of menu choices. The Blue Water Grill serves wonderful ambience and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. 

Many who leave Skaneateles want to take a piece of this wonderful area with them. Wood maps of Lake Skaneateles are the perfect way to take everlasting memories back home. The layout of these maps involves intricate carvings that include the lake as well as additional favorite places and things. This wooden map will tell a story about your stay in a detailed and fascinating way - a way that will be cherished forever.

from
http://blog.carvedlakeart.com/2018/02/lake-skaneateles-history-things-to-do.html