Wisconsin State Fair Park

Wisconsin State Fair

The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a fairgrounds and exhibition center in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It has been the location of the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892. It also hosts other venues such as the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in the world, and the Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic training facility which is independently owned.

History

In 1891, the Wisconsin Agricultural Society purchased almost 100 acres (40 ha) of farmland from George Stevens, in what was then North Greenfield (Honey Creek settlement), in order to secure a permanent site for the Wisconsin State Fair. The fairgrounds later became a staging ground for Camp Harvey during the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II. Two Wisconsin historical markers, which are positioned at the entrance of the Wisconsin Exposition Center, document this history for visitors.

The Green Bay Packers would play some Regular Home games 1930's through 1953 as well as the 1939 NFL Championship_Game at Wisconsin State Fair Park, before moving to Milwaukee County Stadium.

The grounds of the State Fair, at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources park site, contain one of only two Indian effigy mounds remaining in Milwaukee County. (The other is located at Lake Park in Milwaukee.) Four pre-historic mounds originally populated the location, which were built by the Woodlands People from 100 to 1000 AD. They contained artifacts dating to 8000 BC, some of which can be found at the West Allis Historical Museum.

On the 25-27 July 1969 the Midwest Rock Festival was held at the State Fair Park.

Park facilities

• Ag Village
• Master Spas Pavilion
• Milwaukee Mile
• Pettit National Ice Center
• RV park
• Special Guest Centers
• Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center
• Wisconsin Exposition Center
• Wisconsin Products Pavilion
• Parks of Milwaukee

External links

• Wisconsin State Fair Park