Jean Nicolet was the first documented exploration of Wisconsin by French explorers. He landed near the Bay of Green Bay and met with leaders of the local Ho-Chunk Nation. Sent by Samuel De Champlain to broker peace in hopes of expanding French fur trade further west. Tune in to learn more about Jean Nicolet and his place in Wisconsin history.

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Sources:

“Arrival of the First Europeans.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS388.

Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and Nicolet, 1634. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text6/hochunk.pdf.

“Ho-Chunk History.” Milwaukee Public Museum. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-150.

“Jean Nicolet.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Nicolet.

“Nicolet, Jean 1598-1642.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS1665.

In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, Badgerland Journal will be covering Revolutionary War veterans who served, later moved to Wisconsin and are interred in the state. The first of this series cover Philip Allen, whose family founded Allen's Grove Wisconsin. Philip Allen was present for the Siege of Boston at the Roxbury Garrison, Battle of Bennington and the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga. Tune in to learn more about Wisconsin's connection to the Revolution.

Let us know how you liked the podcast or suggest new ideas! Contact us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ or send an email to badgerlandjournal@gmail.com

Sources:

Barrett, Brian. “Half Moon as a Revolutionary War Camp.” New York Almanack, January 31, 2021. https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2019/02/half-moon-as-a-revolutionary-war-camp/.

“Bennington.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bennington.

Brustman, Bob. “Rediscovering Roxbury’s Revolutionary Role.” Harvard Gazette, April 6, 2006. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2006/04/rediscovering-roxburys-revolutionary-role/.

“History of Allen Grove.” Wisconsin Historical Society, January 1, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA4607.

“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17814, Philip Allen, Mass.” National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/53807149.

“Saratoga.” American Battlefield Trust. Accessed July 1, 2025. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/saratoga.

On May 13th 2025 the shipwreck of the Tugboat J.S. Ames was found in Manitowoc Bay. The ship lay within The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary which was recently designated in 2021. This episode talks about the history of both the J.S. Ames as well as the creation of the Oceanic Atmospheric Administrations newest National Marine Sanctuary.

Let us know what other shipwrecks we should cover! Contact us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠ or send an email to badgerlandjournal@gmail.com

Sources:

“J.C. Ames.” Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/859?region=Index.

Looby, Caitlin. “Wisconsin Angler Discovers One of the Largest Tugboats in Great Lakes History off Manitowoc.” Journal Sentinel, May 19, 2025. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/05/19/historic-tugboat-scrapped-off-manitowoc-discovered-by-wisconsin-angler/83722830007/.

Looby, Caitlin. “Wisconsin’s National Marine Sanctuary Is a Museum Beneath the Water.” Journal Sentinel, March 21, 2024. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2024/03/21/what-to-know-about-wisconsins-marine-sanctuary-in-lake-michigan/73022115007/.