Timeline
of the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin |
| ~2.5 million years |
Span of Ice Age |
~75,000-10,000
years ago |
The Wisconsin Glaciation |
| ~25,000-10,000
years ago |
The late Wisconsin Glaciation |
~15,000
years ago |
Green Bay and Lake Michigan Lobes begin to separate
(although they had been thinning slowly for several thousand
years) |
| 1860 |
Geologist first link the formation of the Kettle Moraine
to colossal ice sheets - Charles Whittlesey |
| 1879 |
Thomas Chamberlin publishes "On the extent and
significance of the Wisconsin Kettle Moraine" |
1895 |
Recent period of continental glaciation named for Wisconsin |
1908 |
Geology of Cross Plains-Verona-Middleton area first
detailed by Frederick Thwaites |
1918 |
William Alden publishes "The Quaternary Geology
of Southeastern Wisconsin" |
1926 |
Milwaukee Chapter of the Izaak Walton League acquires
850 acres in Kettle Moraine for recreation and conservation |
1936 |
State of Wisconsin begins acquisition of Kettle Moraine
State Forest and volunteers from the Milwaukee Chapter
of the Izaak Walton League begin construction hiking trails |
1950's |
Ray Zillmer of Milwaukee proposed the Ice Age Glacier
National Forest Park along the entire length of the moraines
of Wisconsin Glaciation. With continuous footpath so
visitors could enjoy the glacial landscape. |
| 1958 |
Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation was established |
| 1960 |
Raymond Zillmer dies |
| 1968 |
National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241) passed by
congress establishing framework for system of national
scenic, historic, and recreational trails. |
| 1971 |
Congress establish the nine-unit Ice Age National Scientific
Reserve to be administers by the National Park Service
and State of Wisconsin. The 9 Reserve units are Two Creeks
(Kewanee and Manitowoc); North Kettle Moraine Forest (Sheboygan);
Cross Plains Terminal Moraine (Dane); Devils Lake (Sauk);
Bloomer Moraine (Chippewa); St. Croix Falls Interstate
Park (Polk) are part of the Ice Age Trail. Campbellsport
Drumlin (Fond du Lac); Horicon Marsh (Dodge); and Mills
Bluff Pinnacles (Monroe and Juneau) are not part of Ice
Age Trail. |
| 1975 |
Ice Age Trail Council was formed to coordinate work
with local county chapters and public agencies |
| 1980 |
Congress recognized the Ice Age Trail and designated
it a National Scenic Trail (NST). Segments certified before
1980 were recognized as National Recreation Trails. |
| 1987 |
Wisconsin legislature enacted law that the Ice Age NST
should also be an Ice Age State Scenic Trail (Sect. 23:17) |
| 1989 |
Wisconsin Stewardship Program became law--acquisition
of land in project areas (Sect. 23.09); matching funds
(Sect. 23.293 4 & 5); participation of private groups
and DNR (Sect. 23:175); non-profit organizations as IAP&T
Foundation can receive grants (Sect. 23.096); ceiling
of amount granted (Sect. 23.09 (2q) & (c.)). Administration
of Stewardship grants is NR 51. |
| 1990 |
June of 1990, the Ice Age Trail Council and Foundation
merged and became known as the Ice Age Park and Trail
Foundation. |
| 1991 |
Memorandum of Agreement and Understanding between the
National Parks Service (U.S. Forest Service); Wisconsin
DNR (DOT); and ICe Age Park and Trail Foundation (County
Chapters). There is a potential for 28 or more county
chapters |
| 1991-2001 |
Approval of County IAT Corridor Plans in Dane, Washington, Sauk, Columbia, Portage, & Waupaca Counties approved by their county park commissions and the state DNR board |
| 1994 |
14 National Scenic and Historical trails administered by NPS will receive 1.35 million from Congress, the NPS, $750,000; for the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program (grants) $600,000; and $500,000 for building the Chippewa Moraine Interpretative Center. Chippewa Moraine Visitor Center is open to the public. |
| 1997 |
The Northern and Southern Kettle Moraine to be joined together. Portage/ Waupaca County Ice Age Trail Corridor Plan
(168 pages) was completed and approved by the DNR board
and County Park Commissions. |
| 1998 |
The Conservation Fund, American Hiking Society and Land Trust Alliance awarded the IAP&T Fdn. three grants totaling $10,250 to work on land acquisition for the IAT. The new IAP&T Fdn. website went online. |
| 1999 |
Great addition to Lincoln County to ensure 7 miles of IAT.
|
Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation membership surpasses 4,000 members. |
Congress appropriates federal Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCG) money for Ice Age Trail acquisitions for the
first time |
| 2000 |
2000 Knowles-Nelson Wisconsin Stewardship Program begins,
authorizing $3,000,000 per year for ten years for State
Trail and Ice Age Trail Acquisitions |
2000 Senator Kohl and Congressman Obey had put in the Federal budget 2 million of Land & Water Conservation Funds to WDNR for permanent IAT. NPS received $150,000 increase to its budget for IAT; it funded 2 staff positions. |
| 2001 |
2001 Congressman Dave Obey, Wisconsin’s 7 District received the “Ray Zillmer” award and Senator Kevin Shibilski, Democrat from Stevens Point received the “Friend of the Trail” award who worked to
increase funds for the Wisconsin Stewardship Trail.
|
| Present |
There is continued effort to purchase permanent easements
to complete and protect the Ice Age Trail. |
