WOW! The Wonders Of Wisconsin

WoW History

WoW – History

Would you believe that we trace the search for Wonders of Wisconsin all the way back to the 5th Century B.C.? That’s where we find Herodotus raising the discussion of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” Now another organization has started a search for “modern wonders”.

This article ran in the December 28, 2006 edition of The Shepherd Express weekly news in Metro Milwaukee. It explains how we got started and launched the search for the Wonders of Wisconsin.

W.o.W.! Wonders of Wisconsin!

What are they? You’ll be the Judges.
By Gary Knowles – Shepherd Express Travel Editor

…I am waiting
for a rebirth of wonder…
– Lawrence Ferlinghetti, “I am waiting”

Wonder. Awe. Expectations greatly exceeded.
Jaw dropping incredible.
We can never get enough of it.

The “Ancient World” had its list: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes,the Pharos lighthouse off Alexandria and the Egyptian Pyramids. The original “Seven Wonders of the (ancient) World”. All of them were built between 2000 B.C. and 200 B.C. and all except the pyramids are long gone.

So now that we have a toe hold in the Third Millennium it’s time to update the list. Are you ready? The “New 7 Wonders” campaign was launched in 2000 by Swiss film producer, author and aviator Bernard Weber. Half the profits from the campaign will be donated to “global good causes in monument and building restoration and preservation.” You can cast a vote on-line at www.new7wonders.com The “world’s choices” (at least the wired world’s choices) will be announced in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007 (by the way, that’s 07/07/07) .

You’ll have to choose from 21 “wonders” that have been whittled down from an original list of 77.The list includes, The Acropolis, Alhambra, Angkor, Chichen Itzá, Christ Redeemer, The Colosseum, Easter Island, Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia, Kiyomizu Temple, Kremlin, Machu Picchu, Neuschwanstein Castle, Petra, Pyramids of Giza, Statue of Liberty, Stonehenge, Sydney Opera House, Taj Mahal, Timbuktu. If you don’t recognize them all go to www.new7wonders.com for detailed descriptions.

It didn’t take long for several wine-soaked Wisconsin travel writers to shift focus from the Wonders of the World to…The Wonders of Wisconsin. Betty Stark of Portage, Mary Bergin of Madison and I quickly had a list of a dozen, then twenty five and soon fifty Badger State nominees worthy of discussion.

The Milwaukee Art Center, the State Capitol Building and Lambeau Field were shouted out, quickly followed in the next breath with House on the Rock, the five story Musky at the Hayward Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, Rawley Point Lighthouse and The Mitchell Park Domes. And yes, the Dickyville Grotto, Chatty Belle (the big “talking “cow at Neillsville) and the bathrooms at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan. ( Your Wonder may well be my..wonder why!)

OK…so you get the idea. And you probably have some nominations of your own. Great!
We’re going to open this discussion to your and the world and choose the
Wonders of Wisconsin.

Because Wisconsin is so loaded with natural and human-created wonders we have established a set of categories and subcategories to catch much of the best the state has to offer:

Natural Wonders

Massive (you can’t see it all from one spot or in a few hours, ( e.g. Apostle Islands)
Big (You can generally see it from one spot or in a few hours, (e.g. Big Manitou Falls)
Standard (You can generally walk up and see it in a few minutes (.e.g. Stand Rock)
Small or Tiny ( you’ll have to get pretty close to see it …)

Human Created Wonders

Attractions & Historic Sites
Breweries
Buildings & Architecture
Businesses
Events
Golf Courses
Parks (Any & All)
Performances
Public Art Works
Pubs, Bars, Saloons
Restaurants, Cafes, Eateries
Wineries

Scenic Drives

Should be at least 2 miles long

Human Wonders

The greatest Wisconsinites of all time – must be “from” Wisconsin –not necessarily born here, but somehow closely associated with the state

NOMINATE, VOTE, GO!
From now until February 15th 2007 we’ll receive nominations at travel@shepherd-express.com . A panel of state tourism officials and travel writers will narrow the lists down to a manageable number of the most popular nominees. A web site listing nominees will be announced soon. We plan to publish the list here in the March 1st issue. Voting for Wonders (on-line) will then run through April 15. The Wonders of Wisconsin – and other favorites - will be featured in the special Shepherd Express “Summer Getaway Issue” planned for April 26 – just in time for you to build into your summer adventure plans.

TO NOMINATE: By Feb. 15 E-mail to travel@shepherd-express.com or WisconsinWonders@aol.com
Your name, E-mail address, category or sub-category, what or whom you’re nominating, where it is located, and a short (up to 25 word) description of the nominee.

PRIZES
Everyone who nominates one or more Wisconsin Wonders will have their name entered (only once per person) in a drawing for prizes that we’ll announce in future Traveling Shepherd columns. We will not share, trade or sell your email with anyone and will use it only to communicate with you about the Wonders of Wisconsin, tell you about the prizes and report on winners.

Now, let the Wonder-ing begin!