The Power of Nostalgia : An Exploration of Wisconsin’s Romanticized Logging Industry

Abstract

The years between the 1830s and 1920s are vital years in the history of Wisconsin and its extensive logging industry. The logging industry shaped Wisconsin’s history, geographical makeup, and reputation globally. Yet most of those in the logging industry held dangerous jobs with poor pay and working conditions. The bigger historical themes of The American Frontier and changing expectations of masculinity during the Great Depression give context as to why there is a romanticized interpretation of Wisconsin’s logging industry. The goal of this research is to examine how The American Frontier and the redefinition of masculinity during the Great Depression shaped the interpretation of Wisconsin’s logging era. This research will be analyzing the aftermath of the logging era, the 1930s and 1940s, when the media and institutions started to interpret Wisconsin’s logging era in their work. Finally, this research will also show how the historical interpretation and imagery of Wisconsin’s logging industry has changed from the 1930s and 1940s to the present day. The study enriches our understanding of how nostalgia over its logging era continues to shape Wisconsin’s cultural identity.