Historic Map - Green Bay & Port Howard, WI - 1867

Green Bay and Fort Howard, Brown Co., Wisconsin 1867. Drawn by A. Ruger.

Beautiful bird's eye view map of Green Bay, Wisconsin, drawn by Albert Ruger in 1867, reprint. French explorer Jean Nicolet explored the area around Green Bay as part of New France, establishing a small trading post in 1634 and staying with the local Winnebago tribe who lived around the bay. The death of Samuel de Champlain, founder of New France, interrupted further exploration of the region that became known as Baie Verte. Indian conflicts discouraged settlement and the region was largely untouched by Europeans until a Jesuit Mission was established in 1671. A French fort was built nearby in 1717 and the town of Baie Verte was incorporated in 1754, coming under British control in 1761.

In 1765, Charles de Langlade and his family arrived in 1765, becoming the first permanent settlers in Wisconsin. The "Father of Wisconsin", as he became known, Charles de Langlade was a half-French Ottowa war chief who was credited with planning the ambush on British troops in the French and Indian War.

In spite of the French culture, the town of Baie Verte remained under British rule, even after the Revolutionary War, not becoming part of the United States officially until 1783. Fort Howard was built in 1816 on the banks of the Fox River. Following the completion of Fort Howard, American settlers began to arrive and the French name for the town (Baie Vert) became known as Green Bay. Joining several small towns together, including Astor, Navarino and Fort Howard, the city was incorporated as the city of Green Bay in 1854. During the 1850's, many European immigrants arrived to take advantage of the cheap farmland available. The largest group to arrive in Green Bay were from Belgium, but many also from Germany, Ireland, Holland and Scandinavia.

This map captures the town in the decade that the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad arrived, creating new business opportunities as it opened up the port for international trade.

Features numbered references to the following locations:

1. Presbyterian Church.
2. French Catholic Church.
3. German Catholic Church.
4. Holland Catholic Church.
5. Methodist Church.
6. Moravian Church.
7. Episcopal Church.
8. German Lutheran Church.
9. School House.
10. Court House.
11. Congregational (Ft. Howard) Church.
12. Baptist (Ft. Howard) Church.
13. Catholic (Ft. Howard) Church.
14. C. & N. W. Railway Depot.
15. Remains of old military Fort.
16. Beaumont House Hotel.
17. Jackson House Hotel.
18. Green Bay House Hotel.
19. Fox River House Hotel.
20. Bay City House Hotel.
21. Turners Hall Hotel.
22. Adams House Hotel.