Milwaukee began as a Great Lakes port in 1835 when the first commercial cargo vessel called at the struggling new village on the west shore of Lake Michigan. Settlers and traders were drawn to the site because of its Indian population, its access to the "western frontier" afforded by three separate streams; the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers, which flow into Lake Michigan at a central Point in Milwaukee harbor. The streams, originally of interest to the fur traders because it afforded penetration to the interior by canoe, have been intensively developed with dock facilities, and expanded by dredging and channel improvements, and have become the focal point of a substantial commercial and industrial harbor development, handling millions of tons of commerce annually." - Port Milwaukee

Steve Schaffer, assistant archivist at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, will guide us through Milwaukee's inner harbor and up the KK River as time allows. We will stop along the way (we will not exit our kayaks) and talk about the history before us, where a lush rice marsh gave way to a bustling port.

Cost

$35 per person; half will be donated back to the Milwaukee County Historical Society (MCHS)*
• Space is limited | pre-registration required.
• If this trip needs to be canceled due to weather and river conditions, we will notify you by phone and/or email and you will receive a full refund.

We Care

These history trips are organized through a partnership with Milwaukee Kayak Company and the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Tickets are $35 each and half of each ticket will be donated back to the Milwaukee County Historical Society

COVID-19

We are also taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously and have new policies and procedures in place for this season. If we feel that this tour needs to be canceled due to this, we will notify you in advance and refund your ticket. If you need to cancel for any reason, please let us know in advance (thanks!) so we can release your reservation and issue you a refund. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

What to Expect

We will paddle as a group. We will launch together and paddle as time permits. We will then turn around and paddle back to our dock. There are no rest stops planned for this trip but if we need to stop for any reason, we can and will at the best possible place for everyone.

What to Bring

• You!
• Water bottle filled with water
• Small coolers okay
• Dress for the weather - consider bringing a windbreaker (do not wear jeans or heavy cotton)
• Camera
• ID
• A headlamp or two (we have extras)
• Towel to sit on (optional)

What we will Provide

• Kayak
• Life jacket
• Paddle
• Dry-bag (limited amount available)
• Water, snacks and sunscreen are always on-hand
• Safe and fun atmosphere
• Guides and a safety boater(s) always accompany our guided tours

What to Wear

• Lightweight clothing (do not wear jeans or heavy cotton)
• Sandals, flips or shoes with a thin sole
• Rain jacket/windbreaker
• Sunglasses and/or hat

Upon Arrival

• We will check you in.
• We will outfit you with the proper kayak, life jacket and paddle.
• We will have introductions, review information and rules of the river.
• Life jackets must be worn at all times when you are near or on the river.

Notes

The name "Milwaukee" comes from an Algonquian word Millioke, meaning "Good", "Beautiful" and "Pleasant Land" (cf. Potawatomi language minwaking, Ojibwe language ominowakiing) or "Gathering place [by the water]" (cf. Potawatomi language manwaking, Ojibwe language omaniwakiing)