When you walk down streets in the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin you immediately notice all the original architecture that makes this city famous. Prior to now Waukesha was known as "Spring City" and had many numerous spring houses that contained Waukesha's famous water. People would come from afar to experience the medicinal qualities of the water including Abraham Lincoln's wife Mary who spent the summer of 1872 in Waukesha. The founder of Sears stayed at his house outside of Waukesha and passed away in Waukesha. Les Paul (see video link below entitled History of Waukesha) was born and raised in Waukesha and went on to become one of the greatest inventors in music creating multi track recording and the solid body guitar.

The water in Waukesha, Wisconsin  and the Springs were outstanding. In fact; it became a phenomana with all the springs,spas, and resorts, not to say the famous visitors; Sears, Grant, Lincoln, Chase, and many more would make this a destination. In the year 1869, Richard Dunbar began what would later be deemed a sheer extravagance. In the forty years from 1870 to 1910, the village of Waukesha experienced changes by leaps and bounds. It saw the installation of close to 50 different springs including Silurian, Lethain, Horeb, Arcadian, and White Rock springs. Please click the video link below to know more about the history of Waukesha and Les Paul, and more. Les paul recently passed away, and is buried in Waukesha,Wisconsin

The city experienced visitors of fame and wealth from all over the Union, enormous and ornate resorts, shipments of famous Waukesha Water with destinations all over the world.Waukesha, Wisconsin  became a national tourist attraction and resort location. It's difficult to envision our city so drastically different, as many of the urban landscapes now present were then beautifully decorated parks filled with sparkling springs.

People arrived in the hundreds by train every day, and made their way to lounge on stone steps or in park benches where they could comfortably drink the healing waters and relax. Waukesha was gardens (large floral gardens still are maintained in Frame park), with flowers of all colors, pools and streams, paths through groves of trees and shaded spring houses.

The growth of Waukesha, Wisconsin  in it's early days from the water, the history, Les Paul, and the resorts is wonderful. You get this sense walking and talking with the people in Waukesha, Wisconsin. My next article will be on the World famous Waukesha Moor Downs Mud baths which had amazing healing powers as well. I often think if Norman Rockweel would have visited the City of Waukesha Wisconsin he would have never left. There would have been plenty here for him.

History - Waukesha Wisconsin History - Waukesha WI Originally called