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Lead Mining in Wisconsin: Native Nations to Early Settlers
The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society introduces Half-Hour History, a once-a-month lunchtime lecture series featuring engaging presentations on local and regional history. These free programs are open to all and will take place at Mount Horeb’s Driftless Historium at 1:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
The debut lecture in this new series, “Lead Mining in Wisconsin: Native Nations to Early Settlers” will be presented by UW-Platteville Lecturer Emeritus Tracey Lee Roberts on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
For centuries, mining for lead ore was a seasonal occupation of indigenous groups in the Upper Mississippi River Valley Lead Mine District. Pressure to increase mining operations intensified as French speakers and later Americans entered the scene. Their co-opting of the mining trade caused clashes between Native Nations and incoming settlers, eventually leading to the forced removal of Native Americans from their traditional homelands, villages and farms.
Tracey Lee Roberts is a retired Senior Lecturer Emeritus from the University of Wisconsin- Platteville. She researches and writes on a variety of topics related to Midwestern History from the 18th through the 20th century. She is currently writing a biography of Wisconsin’s first Territorial Governor Henry Dodge and working with the Collections Team at the Galena and US Grant History Museum.
The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society operates the Driftless Historium. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, MHAHS was founded in 1975 to collect, preserve and share the stories of southwestern Dane County.
For more information on the Half Hour History initiative or the inaugural “Lead Mining in Wisconsin” presentation, call 608-437-6486 or email [email protected]. Visit mthorebhistory.org for updates on upcoming Half-Hour History lectures and other programs.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3199913-0
