Lapham Peak Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest

Lapham Peak Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest

Lapham Peak is a Wisconsin state park located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest park system. It is just south of Delafield and seven miles (11 km) west of Waukesha. The park entrance is two miles (3 km) north of the Glacial Drumlin State Trail.

Activities

The park includes three picnic areas, birdwatching, a butterfly garden, a prairie restoration area, an amphitheater, and over convert|25|mi|km of dirt and accessible paved nature trails. A backpacking campsite located beside a four mile (6 km) segment of the Ice Age Trail is also within the park. There is a convert|5|mi|km|sing=on multi-use trail for horse riding, mountain biking, snowshoeing and dog sled training. Over convert|20|mi|km of trails are open in the winter for cross-country skiing. As of 2006, a nature center is under construction.

Lapham Peak

The park takes its name from a hill found within its borders. Lapham Peak has an elevation of convert|1233|ft|m above sea level, and is the highest point in Waukesha County. At the top of Lapham Peak is a wooden observation tower that is convert|45|ft|m high and offers a dynamic view of southeastern Wisconsin and the northern edge of Illinois. The Waukesha County Historical Society named the peak in memory of Increase Lapham to honor his efforts in scientific study and his founding of the United States Weather Bureau.

History

The Lapham Peak area was formed 10,000 years ago by a glacier that covered much of Wisconsin (see Wisconsin glaciation). Examples of moraines, eskers and kettles can be found in the park.

The land was developed in 1851 by Charles Hanson as a tourist attraction. He built a convert|20|ft|m|sing=on tower on top of the hill and charged visitors to picnic and climb the tower. Later, the hill was named Government Hill after the government teams that used it for surveying.

In 1870, the Army Signal Corps built a signal station to relay data about approaching storms from Pikes Peak, Colorado, to Great Lakes ports.Pioneering meteorologist Increase Lapham, who proposed the creation of a National Weather Service, made weather observations here and issued the first published national weather forecast.

The state of Wisconsin purchased the land in 1907 for a tuberculosis sanitarium, which is now the Ethan Allen School for Boys. In 1939, 50 acres of the land was turned over to the Conservation Department for use as a park. The peak's convert|45|ft|m|sing=on tower was erected a year later by a crew from the WPA (Works Project Administration) who also constructed trails, picnic grounds and benches.

External links

* [http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/lapham/ Official DNR site]
* [http://www.laphampeakfriends.org/Prairie%20Restoration.htm Friends of Lapham Peak]
* [http://www.laphampeak.com/ Lapham Peak Website]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kettle Moraine State Forest — The Kettle Moraine State Forest is a state forest in southeastern Wisconsin, USA. The chief feature of the reserve is the Kettle Moraine, a highly glaciated area. The area contains very hilly terrain and glacial landforms, such as kettles, kames… …   Wikipedia

  • Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive — Route information Length: 115 mi[1] (185 km) …   Wikipedia

  • Lapham — is the name of:*Dave Lapham, former player and current announcer for the NFL Cincinnati Bengals *David Lapham, a cartoonist *Elbridge G. Lapham, New York politician *Increase Lapham, a nineteenth century author and scientist *Lewis H. Lapham, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area — Coordinates: 45°13′01″N 91°23′16″W / 45.21694°N 91.38778°W / 45.21694; 91.38778 …   Wikipedia

  • Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest — Coordinates: 46°2′54″N 89°39′16″W / 46.04833°N 89.65444°W / 46.04833; 89.65444 …   Wikipedia

  • Coulee Experimental State Forest — is a state forest located in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, U.S.A. It is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. External links Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Coulee Experimental State Forest …   Wikipedia

  • Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin) — This is about the state park in Wisconsin. For parks with similar names, see Devil s Lake State Park (disambiguation) Coordinates: 43°24′53″N 89°42′47″W / 43.41472°N 89.7 …   Wikipedia

  • Mill Bluff State Park — Coordinates: 43°56′47″N 90°18′55″W / 43.94639°N 90.31528°W / 43.94639; 90.31528 …   Wikipedia

  • Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest — IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area) The Nicolet National Forest in November …   Wikipedia

  • Mirror Lake State Park — For the lake in Waupaca, Wisconsin, see Mirror Lake (Waupaca). Coordinates: 43°33′54″N 89°49′12″W / 43.565°N 89.82°W / …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”