Milwaukee River facts for kids

Dolomite rocks in Estabrook Park, Shorewood, Wisconsin

The Milwaukee River is a cool river in Wisconsin. It stretches for about 104 miles (167 kilometers). This river used to be a busy place for factories. Now, it's a popular spot for homes and fun activities. New apartment buildings fill the downtown area and harbor. Many young people are moving there. The river also has lots of parks along its banks. You can see kayaks, fishing boats, and even party boats sharing the water. A long path called the Riverwalk runs along the river in downtown Milwaukee. It has art, places to launch boats, and restaurants.

Where the River Flows

The Milwaukee River starts in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. It then flows south through towns like Grafton. Finally, it reaches downtown Milwaukee and empties into Lake Michigan. Three main smaller rivers join it: Cedar Creek, the Menomonee River, and the Kinnickinnic River.

The River's Watershed

Map showing the Milwaukee River watershed.

A river's watershed is all the land where water drains into that river. The Milwaukee River watershed covers about 882 square miles (2,284 square kilometers). This area includes parts of several Wisconsin counties. These are Dodge, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha counties.

The Milwaukee River's watershed is part of a bigger system. It belongs to the Lake Michigan subbasin. This subbasin is part of the huge St. Lawrence River Watershed. The St. Lawrence River Watershed gets its water from the Great Lakes.

River History

Long ago, Native American people lived near the Milwaukee River. They were here before Europeans arrived. Explorers like Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet traveled through the Milwaukee River. They used it to get to the Fox River and then to the Mississippi River. Around 1834-1835, the Milwaukee River was called "Maynawalky." The river we call the Menomonee River today was once known as the "Milwalky."

In the early 1800s, three small towns grew up along the Milwaukee and Kinnickinnic rivers. These were Juneautown, started by Solomon Juneau, Walker's Point, by George H. Walker, and Kilbourntown, by Byron Kilbourn. There was a big argument, known as the Milwaukee Bridge War, about building a bridge across the Milwaukee River. This argument was a key reason why the three towns decided to join together. They formed the city of Milwaukee in 1846.

River Bridges

The Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, with the Wisconsin Avenue bridge crossing it.

The Milwaukee River frozen over, with the Saint Paul Avenue bridge crossing it.

Many bridges cross the Milwaukee River. Some of these are movable bridges. This means parts of them can lift or swing open. They let boats pass underneath. These bridges include bascule bridges, which lift up like a seesaw. There are also hydraulically-powered table bridges. Many other bridges are fixed, meaning they don't move. There are also bridges just for people walking and railroad bridges.

Here is a list of some bridges that cross the river, from north to south:

• Brown Deer Road Bridge
• Range Line Road Bridge
• Good Hope Road Bridge
• Green Tree Road Bridge
• Bender Road Bridge
• Silver Spring Drive Bridge
• Hampton Avenue Bridge
• I-43 Bridge
• Port Washington Road Bridge
• Capitol Drive Bridge
• Locust Street Bridge
• North Avenue Bridge (Milwaukee)|North Avenue Bridge
• North-Humboldt Pedestrian Bridge
• Humboldt Street Bridge
• Holton Street Viaduct (1926)
• Pleasant Street Bridge
• Cherry Street Bridge
• McKinley Avenue Bridge aka Knapp Street Bridge
• Juneau Avenue Bridge
• Highland Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
• State Street Bridge (Milwaukee)|State Street Bridge
• Kilbourn Avenue Bridge
• Wells Street Bridge (Milwaukee)|Wells Street Bridge
• Wisconsin Avenue Bridge
• Michigan Street Bridge
• Clybourn Street Bridge
• I-794 Bridge
• Saint Paul Avenue Bridge
• Water Street Bridge
• Broadway Bridge aka Milwaukee Street Bridge
• Hoan Bridge

The Union Pacific Railroad also has several railroad bridges crossing the Milwaukee River. These include bridges:

• north of Bender Road
• south of Silver Spring Drive
• Railroad Swing Bridge #1556 (built in 1915)

Parks Along the River

Many public parks are located along the Milwaukee River. They offer great places to play and enjoy nature.

River Dams

Dams are barriers built across a river to hold back water. Some dams on the Milwaukee River are still active, while others have been removed. Removing dams can help the river flow more naturally and improve conditions for fish and wildlife.

See also

In Spanish: Río Milwaukee para niños