Shorewood: Shoreline Landscape and Local History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Shorewood, it’s worth considering which aspect of the area you want to shape your stay before you book: the shoreline landscape, trails, or local history. Riverbanks and a sandy shoreline are part of Shorewood’s landscape; its local history includes a former railway line and amusement parks that once stood here. For planning your trip, what matters most is which of these perspectives interests you more.

Parks, Coastline, and Nature Trail

Hubbard Park covers nearly five acres of terraced, wooded land on the east bank of the Milwaukee River. The terracing refers to the stepped shape of the terrain; together with the woodland, it creates a different landscape from a sandy shoreline. Visitors reach the park through a pedestrian tunnel beneath the Oak Leaf Recreation Trail. Atwater Beach has an 800-foot sandy shoreline. The park and beach therefore represent different types of landscape: wooded, terraced land along the river and a long sandy shoreline.

Shorewood Nature Preserve lies between Menlo and Newton on the east side of Lake Drive. The Milwaukee River Greenway is a nature trail along the Milwaukee River shoreline; Shorewood residents have access to it.

Railway History in Two Time Periods

Shorewood’s railway history can be understood through two different time periods. The railway tracks through Shorewood were replaced by the Oak Leaf Trail in 1989. The “Twin Cities 400,” operated by the Chicago & North Western Railway, ran through Shorewood from 1935 to 1963 along the present-day route of the Oak Leaf Trail. “The Ghost Train” was intended to help visitors imagine the train’s historic round trip. The installation was planned as an artistic sensory experience at the Oak Leaf Trail bridge and Capitol Drive in Shorewood. Thus, 1935 to 1963 refers to the train’s service, while 1989 refers to the replacement of the tracks with the trail.

Local History in Homes and River Park

Local history can also be seen in smaller details. The “Birthday Markers” are granite stones in front of homes; each gives the year that particular home was built. In River Park, near the ball fields, stands the interpretive sign “A Colorful Controversial Corner.” It tells the story of the former amusement parks Cooney Island, Wonderland, and Ravenna, which operated there from 1900 to 1916. River Park is also home to the Village of Shorewood’s youth baseball and youth soccer organizations.

Local History by Scale and Time Period

For your travel decision, local history can be considered by scale and time period: the “Birthday Markers” refer to individual homes, while the sign in River Park concerns several former parks and the period they shared. The railway story also calls for distinguishing between the historic train service and the planned artistic experience: 1935 to 1963 refers to the “Twin Cities 400” service; “The Ghost Train” was planned as an artistic sensory experience to help people imagine that round trip.

Discover more destinations: Greenfield, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, River Hills, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee.

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