The SS Meteor is the last surviving "whaleback" steamship in the world. Built in 1896 in Superior, Wisconsin, by Captain Alexander McDougall, this 380-foot vessel features a distinctive cigar-shaped steel hull designed to cut through rough Great Lakes waves. Today, it operates as a restored maritime museum at Barker's Island in Superior. The Sons of Wisconsin visited the museum in June of 2026 and enjoyed touring the bowels of this stalwart vessel. Afterward, we shared food and libations at a local brewery. 

In May of 2026, the Sons of Wisconsin traveled to tucked-away Williams Bay on Lake Geneva to visit the Yerkes Observatory. Originally the home of the University of Chicago's graduate school, the Observatory was built under the patronage of Gilded Age business tycoon Charles T. Yerkes. In addition to its iconic period architecture, the Observatory led the world in astronomical innovation. It featured the world's largest refractory telescope (no larger can be built, as it would exceed the limitations of the technology) and houses an extensive library. Some of the world's greatest astronomers, including Carl Sagan, studied here. After our tour, we picnicked at a nearby nature park, where the brothers present enjoyed throwing a pigskin together.

The Milwaukee Public Museum is soon to be destroyed in lieu of the new Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin. Before its imminent destruction, the Sons of Wisconsin took an exclusive guided tour of our State's premeire museum in March of 2026. Founded in 1882, the Milwaukee Public Museum invented the modern museum with what is known as the "Milwaukee Style." Instead of Victorian curio exhibits, Milwaukee debuted in-situ artifact exhibition with dioramas, the first of which was its iconic Muskrat exhibit. Today, the Museum features four floors of immersive content, tracing life on earth from the Creation through the development of various human civilizations. All regions on earth are represented, featuring an emphasis on Milwaukee and Wisconsin's history. We shared lunch on-site mid-tour and walked to a local downtown establishment for beers afterward. 

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was a fitting place to commemorate the memory of those who lost their lives in the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald, which began its ill-fated final voyage from Superior, WI 50 years ago. The Sons of Wisconsin visited the museum on Saturday, November 8th, to mark the occassion. On a more upbeat note, the museum is a fitting homage to much of Wisconsin's maritime history, featuring a gargantuan working ship's engine and a docked submarine (the museum is on the shores of Lake Michigan!) that we were able to tour from aft to bow (the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company built 28 such submarines during World War II). Afterward, we enjoyed the sights of Manitowoc, including its historic domed Courthouse, as we traveled to our luncheon venue. 

On Friday and Saturday, September 19th and 20th, 2025, the Sons of Wisconsin visited St. Croix Falls and the beautiful Interstate State Park. Our event started with a meet and greet open to prospects at a local establishment on Friday night, followed by a tour of Interstate State Park on Saturday, which was celebrating its 125th anniversary that day. We enjoyed several different hiking trails, including the terminus of the Ice Age Trail, a historic trail that spans hundreds of miles from the border of Minnesota to Lake Michigan. After an exciting day, we enjoyed a beer keg at St. Croix Falls' Lions Park, followed by dinner at another local venue. 

After a private members' meeting on Friday, June 20th, the Sons of Wisconsin hosted a picnic luncheon on Saturday, June 21st, to inaugurate the summer and showcase one of the gems of our state park system, Wildcat Mountain State Park, and the natural beauty that the driftless region of Wisconsin has to offer. 

Lunch included burgers and brats over a park grill, which we enjoyed at a reserved pavillion near a cliffside overlook. The wives of our members made several fixings, including delicious pasta salad and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. It was a weekend to remember!

The Sons of Wisconsin attended the South Milwaukee Memorial Day ceremony at the city's War Memorial. 

The ceremony included a reading of all the names of those from the community who lost their lives in service in one of the nation's wars. 

After attending the ceremony, we joined the mayor and other local leaders at the public luncheon.

The event started at the Père Marquette statue (pictured) at Père Marquette Park in downtown Milwaukee. After meeting, we walked a two-mile loop exploring historic locations, which included:

• The site where Père Marquette ostensibly camped after discovering Milwaukee in 1674

• The sites of the Milwaukee Bridge War of 1845

• Old St. Mary's—The oldest Church standing in Milwaukee (1846) 

• Cathedral Square Park, Milwaukee's original Civic Center (1836)

• The historic Milwaukee City Hall (1895)

• Milwaukee's iconic River Walk

After our historical tour, the men in attendance shared lunch and drinks at a downtown Milwaukee German restaurant.