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This map, titled Survey of the Entrance to Milwaukie, Wisconsin, 1836, was surveyed by Lieutenants A.J. Center and E. Rose under the auspices of the United States government. The map provides a detailed hydrographic representation of the entrance to the Milwaukee River from Lake Michigan, including depth soundings, shoreline features, and sand formations. The survey captures the topography and underwater contours crucial for navigational purposes, reflecting the early efforts of the U.S. government to map and facilitate access to developing frontier towns along Lake Michigan
Milwaukee's strategic location on the western shore of Lake Michigan made it a significant hub for trade and settlement in the early 19th century. Initially inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Potawatomi, the area saw increased interest from European settlers following treaties that ceded lands to the United States. By the early 1830s, Milwaukee was becoming a focal point for settlers moving westward, aided by its promising port potential.
In 1836, the year of this survey, Milwaukee was still a nascent town, officially founded just a few years earlier by French-Canadian fur trader Solomon Juneau, along with other settlers like Byron Kilbourn and George H. Walker. This period was marked by rapid development fueled by its advantageous position as a port city that facilitated trade and migration. The surveying of the entrance to the Milwaukee River was part of broader federal efforts to support infrastructure development and safe navigation for commercial vessels in the Great Lakes region, which were vital for the transport of goods, including grain, lumber, and other materials critical to the economy of the burgeoning Midwest.
The 1836 survey by Lieutenants Center and Rose represents the earliest systematic effort by the U.S. government to map the approaches to Milwaukee's harbor. This was a crucial step in transforming Milwaukee from a modest settlement into a major commercial port. The detailed depth soundings and documentation of sandbars and other navigational hazards provided vital information for the construction of piers, breakwaters, and other maritime infrastructure necessary to accommodate larger ships and increased maritime traffic.
![[Volk Field Air National Guard Base] Map Showing the Vicinity of Camp Douglas, Juneau Co., Wis.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/83882.jpg)
