Juneau Park facts for kids
_p897_MILWAUKEE,_JUNEAU_PARK.jpg)
Juneau Park is a beautiful park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It sits high up on a hill, called a bluff, looking out over Lake Michigan. People love this park because it's close to downtown Milwaukee. It also has a great path for walking along the lake and is a perfect spot to watch fireworks!
Park History and Famous Statues
Juneau Park has some important statues. One is the Juneau Monument, built in 1887. It honors Solomon Juneau, who was Milwaukee's very first mayor. A mayor is the leader of a city government. The monument was designed by an artist named Richard Park.
Another famous statue in the park is Leif, the Discoverer. This statue, also from 1887, shows Leif Erikson. He was a famous Norse explorer who explored North America long ago. The sculptor, Anne Whitney, created this statue. It is a copy of another statue found in Boston.
The Story of Gertie the Duck
One of the most heartwarming stories connected to Juneau Park is about a duck named Gertie the Duck. In the mid-1940s, Gertie became very famous in Milwaukee. She chose a wooden pile under the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge to lay her nine eggs.
A reporter from the Milwaukee Journal, Gordon MacQuarrie, wrote about Gertie. Her story of patiently watching over her eggs became a symbol of hope. This was especially important near the end of World War II, when many Americans were tired from the war.
Many people watched over Gertie and her growing family. This included people walking by, Boy Scouts, and even an officer from the Wisconsin Humane Society. Gertie's story was not just in local newspapers. It was also shared in national newspapers and even in the United Kingdom!
After facing bad weather and a fire nearby, Gertie and her six ducklings were moved to a safe lagoon. This lagoon was located right in Juneau Park.
