Overview

Named in honor of a famous Menominee Indian chief, Oshkosh was first developed in 1836 by settlers who built homes on the shore of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest inland lake. Today, the burgeoning city is home to business and manufacturing interests, and it boasts a rich cultural and historic heritage. The beautiful Paine Art Center, housed in a restored Tudor-style manor, displays historic furnishings and art. The Grand Opera House has been fully restored to its late 19th-century splendor, and Oshkosh's symphony orchestra plays a five-concert season there each year. Naturalists enjoy nearby Menominee Park and Zoo, the bordering Fox River and Lake Butte des Morts. Students from Fox Valley Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh add youth and vigor to the city's activities and contribute to a bustling social scene. Like many lakeside neighbors, the city of 63,000 enjoys a vast array of outdoor activities in every season, including biking, hiking, boating and skiing.

Recent User Activity in Oshkosh