Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Wausau

Follow the history of Wausau from its milling origins to today's vibrant Central Wisconsin community, built on the ambitions and pride of its residents. Film, archival images and interviews with historians and residents tell the stories of Wausau's early settlement, the transformative impact of investors called "The Wausau Group" and the city's tradition of building local cultural institutions.
Watch the full Wisconsin Hometown Stories series online and on the PBS app on your phone, tablet, Roku, other streaming devices and Smart TVs now: pbswisconsin.o...
Chapters
1:54 Intro
17:55 On The Map
31:15 The Wausau Spirit
39:54 Hmong Journey
48:26 Connections

[@kristinel6352]

I'm descended from one of those men Kick bush brought in!!! I grew up hearing the stories of the logging camps and going down the river!

[@plasticpeon]

I had many great memories in this town. Watching this made me appreciate the town even more.

[@lindam6129]

Shocked and saddened that they tore down the absolutely gorgeous courthouse that was the gem of this town square. It feels like a gaping hole in the soul of this town to see it gone.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

Well done

[@knighttuttrupriprock9733]

I skied at Rib Mountain in the early seventies, it was the biggest mountain I'd ever skied at.

[@ysa4473]

Interestingly, the pronunciation of Wausau sounds very similar to the English pronunciation of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Warsaw also seems to mean "saw war" in English. Oh well.

[@Steve-318]

It comes from Ojibwe, waasaa meaning far away, distant. May be from Rib Mountain there where you can see 50 miles in all directions from on top.

[@thomaslawrence4399]

In all that footage there were only two people on the streets.

[@browngreen933]

How did Rothschild get that name?

[@MadisonMadetheMax]

How dare you PBS

[@MadisonMadetheMax]

I know what you did

[@kenaidog6974]

The Hmong killed off all the squirrels and chipmunks. Now they found beaver and weasel.