The city of Green Bay is mostly known for its NFL football team, the Green Bay Packers. However, the city offers much more than something just for football fans!
In the 17th century the bay of Lake Michigan, where Green Bay is located today, was the target of many different groups. Indians discovered the advantages of this region, as well as the French-Canadian settlers. The latter established a trading post here in 1634. This makes it the thirteenth oldest settlement in the USA. The French first called this area “La baie des puants” (the bay of stinking water), this not very flattering name soon changed, however, to “La baie verte” (the green bay). As the region fell into English hands, the British settlers simply translated the name and the result was the name “Green Bay”.
After the city became part of the U.S. in 1783, a large number of European immigrants came to the area. Soon after that the railway began its march through Wisconsin and the new means of transportation caused a small economic boom in Green Bay. At this time already it was already clear which industry was associated with the name Green Bay, even to this day – the manufacturing of paper and packaging materials. The football team representing the city was started in 1919 and right from the start was promoted by the packaging industry and that is how they got the name “Packers”. Today around 100,000 people live in Green Bay.
On South Broadway you will find the National Railroad Museum, one of the largest railway museums in the USA. From May to September you don’t have to be satisfied with just seeing the locomotives from the golden age of the railroads, but you can also go on a 30 minute ride in one of the locomotives. Regularly the play “Last of the Giants” takes place, which tells the story of the legendary locomotive “Union Pacific Big Boy”.
When you are in Green Bay, there is no way that you can avoid football. The American national sport is present everywhere in this city, because the Packers team is the pride of all Green Bay residents. Unfortunately, as a mortal you hardly have a chance to buy tickets for a game. Since 1960 every home game has been sold out and there are more than 70,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets. Nevertheless, it is worth visiting the football stadium, Lambeau Field. The recently revamped stadium includes the Packers Hall of Fame, a museum about the exciting history of the team.
If you travel from Green Bay on the Interstate 43 and drive 100 miles to the south, you will reach Milwaukee. This is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin and accordingly also has much to offer. Those that love plants will especially be impressed by the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conversatory, which is just called “The Domes” by the locals. Under the giant domes of the facility, thousands of plants from around the world can be seen, which flourish in the special climatic conditions. In the Tropical Dome, for example, you personally see the flora of the tropical rainforest. Those that aren’t particularly interested in flowers and trees will maybe have more fun at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Roughly 2,500 animals which belong to 300 different species live here.
