Deep in the heart of Wisconsin,
Appleton is a prosperous little community with a population of about 70,000,
rich in arts and history. Located on the
Fox River about 100 miles north of Milwaukee, it is unspoiled, charming and
totally inviting.
The proud home of Lawrence
University, the city and its residents consider the university as an extension
of the city. They fully enjoy the
benefits of the school’s music, drama and sporting events.
Originally settled by fur traders
in the 1800s Appleton has gained acclaim for a number of firsts over the
years. In 1882 the country’s first
hydro-electric station was erected and in 1886 they welcomed the first
commercially successful streetcar company.
Almost a decade before that, local resident Alfred Galpin, constructed
his own telephone to connect his bank to his residence which gave Appleton the
first telephone in all Wisconsin. They
also claim the first incandescent light in any city outside of the East Coast.
A proud feature of the city is the
Appleton Public Library. Not only does
it boast a 240,000 volume book collection but in 1986 it was voted one of the
top 50 libraries in the U.S.
For those who connect to a city’s
famous former residents, Appleton is also said to be the birthplace of Henri
Houdini who claimed it his birthplace and who the city gladly holds as their
own.
