1) In 1832, the Black Hawk War officially ended when Black Hawk, a Sauk leader, surrendered to General Winfield Scott near Prairie du Chien. The war had been fought between the Sauk and Fox tribes and the United States government, with Wisconsin being a major battleground.

2) On August 18, 1856, the first public school for African American students opened in Milwaukee. The school was named the “Ward School” after its primary benefactor, James Ward. It made strides in advancing equal opportunities for education in Wisconsin.

3) In 1872, Oshkosh hosted the first-ever national lumbering convention. The convention brought together lumbering industry experts from across the country and solidified Wisconsin’s role as a major player in the industry.

4) August 18, 1920 marked the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Wisconsin was one of the first states to ratify the amendment, which would go on to change the face of American politics.

5) On this day in 1959, Wisconsin’s first state park, Peninsula State Park, officially opened to the public. Located in Door County, the park covers almost 4,000 acres and offers a multitude of recreational activities, including hiking, camping, swimming, and boating.