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ARTIFACT COLLECTION

Winter in Whitnall Park

M2000.048.001
c. mid 20th century

Charles Whitnall served as the Secretary of the Milwaukee County Park System from its inaugural year in 1907 to his retirement in 1941. A longtime dream of Whitnall’s was to locate and set aside a large tract of land as a haven for city dwellers. It would be a place people could go to enjoy lakes, streams, wildlife, flowers and trees. In 1924, he found a space and, over the following five years, advocated its purchase. Milwaukee County eventually purchased the parcel (1929-1930). Originally dubbed Hales Corners Park, the property was later (1932) renamed Whitnall Park in honor of its visionary, Charles B. Whitnall. After his death in 1949, Mr. Whitnall’s ashes were scattered over his beloved Whitnall Park.