Historic Timeline
« Bottom
»
1634
Jean Nicolet, sent by the French government in Canada, journeyed the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to locate and make treaties with native tribes. He was probably the first European to pass through this valley.
1670
On April 20, Father Claude Allouez said the first Catholic Mass in this area. A marker in Menominee Park commemorates this event.
1700s
The fur trade between native tribes and French Canada is booming.
1795
Oshkosh born. In 1827 he was named a chief of the Menominee tribe. He was known as a peacemaker. Oshkosh died in 1858.
1836
First settler from the eastern U.S. was Webster Stanley.
1838
First wedding among the American settlers, Emmeline Wright and Joseph Jackson.
1839
Meeting to choose an official name for the settlement selected Oshkosh.
1840
First post office established; Chester Ford is postmaster.
1841
First school opened in a room off Stanley's cabin. Miss Emmeline Cook was the first teacher.
1847
First sawmill established.
1848
Wisconsin becomes a state. Oshkosh named county seat of Winnebago County, replacing Butte des Morts.
1849
First newspaper, the Oshkosh True Democrat, begins February 9.
1850
Plank road built to Fond du Lac, 18 miles away.
1851
First church building built by the Methodists. Other congregations met in homes or the courthouse.
1853
Oshkosh was incorporated as a city, population 2500. Edward Eastman is first mayor. Oil-burning street lamps were an early civic improvement.
« Top
»
1858
First railroad reached Oshkosh's south side station.
1861-1865
Civil War took many Oshkosh men away for military service.
1865
First baseball team was organized, and named the Everetts, after a school principal.
1866
Oshkosh was the second largest city in Wisconsin, behind Milwaukee.
1867
High School built. Size: 70 by 85 feet.
1869
City donated property and $25,000.00 for the new state Normal School.
1870
Oshkosh has earned the nickname "Sawdust City" with a string of sawmills lining the river producing over one million board feet of lumber per year, equivalent to 15,000 rail carloads.
1871
Oshkosh Normal school opened on Sept. 12 with six teachers.
1874-1875
Fires each spring destroyed most of the north side downtown. Over 700 buildings were destroyed and rebuilt.
1879
First telephones installed.
1883
Grand Opera House opened.
1891
St. Mary's Hospital opened, would later be known as Mercy Medical Center.
1897
Electric streetcars replaced horse-drawn ones.
1898
Woodworkers went on strike against seven mills.
1900
Public Library leaves room in City Hall for new building given by Harris family and Philetus Sawyer.
1901
High School burns. Interurban transit to Omro is started.
1916
Normal School burns and is rebuilt.
« Top
»
1922
Ralph Buckstaff builds an astronomical observatory.
1924
Edgar Sawyer's home becomes the Oshkosh Public Museum.
1926
North Park renamed Menominee Park; Chief Oshkosh statue dedicated.
1927
Privately owned commercial airport opens, with mail and passenger service.
1928
Bus franchise granted.
1930
Last streetcar runs.
1930-1939
Depression hits lumber industry hard.
1941-1945
World War II takes servicemen away, creates jobs making military supplies.
1947
Paine Art Center and Arboretum opens.
1950
Natural gas becomes available. Population: 40,872.
1953
City celebrates its centennial.
1957
Council-City Manager system replaces Mayor-Alderman system of government.
1958
Airport terminal built.
1959
Lourdes Academy opens.
1961
New Oshkosh High School opens.
1962
Rural schools consolidated into Oshkosh Area School District.
1963
Miss Wisconsin pageant moves to Oshkosh.
1964
Pioneer Inn under construction.
1966
Largest land annexation ever.
« Top
»
1967
Jet service comes to Oshkosh airport.
1969
Winnebago County airport renamed Wittman Field for local aviation pioneer.
1970
Park Plaza shopping development opens on 18 acres in downtown.
EAA holds its first Oshkosh fly-in.
1971
Wisconsin State University-Oshkosh celebrates centennial.
1972
Second Oshkosh high school, North High, opens.
1973
Main Street Bridge reopens after 17 months of construction.
1974
Tornado hits west side.
1975
Senior Citizens' Center opens.
1976
Phil Donahue broadcasts his June 25th national TV show from Civic Center.
1983
Steiger wing added to Oshkosh Public Museum.
1984
EAA Aviation Center and Museum opens.
1985
President Reagan visits.
1986
Grand Opera House reopens. Convention Center and hotel built in downtown. Oshkosh Correctional Institution opens.
1990
Manufacturers Marketplace outlet mall opens on Washburn Road.
1993
New Boys and Girls Club opens.
1994
Oshkosh Public Library moves into renovated and expanded building. Oshkosh Public Museum damaged by fire.
1995
Oshkosh Public Museum reopens after one and a half year restoration.
1996
Railroad tracks removed from center of town.
2000
Sundial built in downtown Oshkosh.
« Top
»
This timeline was compiled by Oshkosh Public Library Reference staff from Local History materials, including the following circulating sources:
977.565 D269h Dawes, William, 1878-1942. History of Oshkosh. 1938.
977.564 G576L Goc, Michael J. Land rich enough : an illustrated history of Oshkosh and Winnebago County. 1988.
977.565 J95h Jungwirth, Clarence. A history of the city of Oshkosh. Vol. 1-4. 1993-1995.
977.565 O827o Oshkosh Centennial, Inc. Oshkosh: One Hundred Year's a City, 1853-1953.
