New Deal Projects – Living New Deal

Appleton (West) High School – Appleton WI

Appleton (West) High School has served as a high school in Appleton, WI since September, 1938. It was built by the Works Progress Administration.

Applied Arts Building Mural, University of Wisconsin-Stout – Menomonie WI

With WPA support, Cal Peters painted several murals for the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus, circa 1935-1936. This 7′ x 20′ oil on canvas is entitled “Perrault’s Trading Fort.” It depicts a trading post on Red Cedar River at the future… read more

Athletic Field Arch – South Milwaukee WI

“WPA-built brick arch entryway to athletic fields, concrete details.”

Badger Park – Shullsburg WI

“The landscape was planned and supervised by Phillip Wyman, a landscape architect from Milwaukee in the 1930’s. This park holds an important geographical position in the visual landscape of the city. Badger Park is an 81/2 acre park, developed in… read more

Bell School (former) – East Troy WI

The school was originally built in 1853. “In 1934, the WPA raised the building and added a basement, as well as an entryway.” The building is still standing, but is apparently no longer used as a school.

Benton School Gymnasium (former) – Benton WI

The historic former Benton School Gymnasium was constructed, in part, as a WPA project. The building now houses a religious organization. WisconsinHistory.org: “A brick gymnasium structure that has a round arched roof. Round recessed arched areas that unite the two… read more

Breese Stevens Field – Madison WI

Breese Stevens Field was constructed as a Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) project.

Brown Deer Park – Milwaukee WI

“In Brown Deer Park the lagoon was enlarged during the WPA program, and a pavillion of English design utilizing stone and timber was constructed in the side of a hill overlooking the lagoon. A stone-faced arch bridge was built.” The… read more

Bukolt Park – Stevens Point WI

Bukolt Park was originally known as Water Works Park: “As with Iverson and Goerke Parks, Water Works Park got its big push during the recovery period of the 1930s when WPA construction was at its peak. Major improvements included landscaping,… read more

Burbank Playground – Milwaukee WI

“Constructing a brick and concrete field house containing toilet, assembly, checking and dressing rooms; erecting playground, apparatus, fencing around the outdoor theater at the Burbank Playground.”

Carleton School Addition – Milwaukee WI

An addition was built by the WPA.

Carson Park Improvements and Baseball Stadium – Eau Claire WI

"In the early 1930s the success of the Eau Claire Bears, a "farm" team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, encouraged Eau Claire to apply to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to fund recreational improvements in Carson Park. The centerpiece of… read more

Carver Park Bathhouse and Pool – Milwaukee WI

“The bathhouse and original swimming pool were built in 1940 with the help of the WPA program. Under County jurisdiction the site was originally named Lapham Park. This name was used until the late 1950’s when it was changed to… read more

Cass Street Bridge – La Crosse WI

A New Deal federal aid project, what is now the westbound span of the Mississippi River Bridge in la Crosse, Wisconsin was constructed in 1939-1940. A plaque on the bridge reads: State Highway Commission of Wisconsin Bridge No 300 1939 Federal-Aid Project… read more

CCC Camp and Forest Improvements – Moquah Barrens State Natural Area WI

The CCC had multiple camps in this area of the Chequamegon National Forest and engaged in many kinds of forest work including “planting of Jack Pine and Norway Pine seedlings, fire hazard reduction, scalping or preparation for future planting,…[t]imber stand… read more

CCC Camp Site – Milwaukee WI

A wooden sign marks the site of former CCC Camp Bluemound, Company 2606, which operated in the vicinity from 1933-1942.

CCC Camps – Chequamegon National Forest WI

Several CCC camps performed extensive work in the Chequamegon National Forest: F-11 Camp Beaver at Clam Lake F-43 Camp Cable, Company V-1676 at Cable F-10 Camp Chippewa River at Loretta F-15 Camp Clam Lake, Company 653 Just east of Clam… read more

CCC Camps and Improvements – Nicolet National Forest WI

“The Civilian Conservation Corps played an important role in helping establish the Nicolet National Forest as a viable and productive area… CCC enrollees working on the Nicolet Forest performed many duties, including forest fire control, tree planting, road construction, recreation… read more

Cherry Street Bridge – Milwaukee WI

Milwaukee’s Cherry Street Bridge was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project in 1940. “The Cherry Street Bridge is a bascule bridge that crosses the Milwaukee River just North of downtown. The 214-foot total length includes a 103-foot draw… read more

Chute Pond Dam – Mountain WI

“Virgin white pine of northeastern Wisconsin attracted early settlers to northern Oconto County. When the virgin forests were depleted, the rocky, sandy soil and the northern climate proved too hard to make a living. Marginal farms were abandoned and the… read more

City Hall – Omro WI

Omro’s current city hall/administration building was originally a theater constructed in 1937: “One of the few buildings in Omro’s downtown built during the Depression years was this fine late Art Deco-style movie theater, which was built using federal W.P.A. funds…. read more

City Hall Window – Milwaukee WI

“While the seal [seal of Milwaukee] itself is in safekeeping with Milwaukee’s City Clerk, a permanent, more colorful version of it resides in the form of a stained glass window in the City Council chambers.” (www.milwaukeehistory.net) “The Arnold Gavin Stained… read more

Columbus City Hall – Columbus NM

The New Mexico Humanities Council and the New Mexico Chapter of the National New Deal Preservation Association list Columbus City Hall on their map of New Deal structures built in New Mexico.

Columbus School – Columbus NM

"Deming has an impressive list of WPA projects: Deming Public Library, Country Club, Junior High, Morgan Hall, Columbus School, Sunshine School, Hospital addition, Park, street paving, sewer work, curbs and trees plus a National Guard building." -Phyllis Eileen Banks

Community Center and Library – Mercer WI

“In 1936, with funding supplied by the Federal Government through an agency called the “Works Progress Administration” (WPA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Town of Mercer started work on the Mercer Community Center/Public Library. Constructed entirely of pine… read more

Copper Falls State Park Improvements – Mellen WI

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built “log buildings, bridges, trails and developed several other structures for the park.”

Crescent Beach Stairs – Algoma WI

The WPA constructed stairs at the south end of Crescent Beach. The stairs display “19 WPA 39” on the top step and bottom slab along with 48 star stone mosaic U.S. flags. The stairs are edged with field stone. Fossils… read more

Cudahy High School – Cudahy WI

An addition to the Cudahy High School was built as a Milwaukee County PWA construction project.

Cumberland School Addition – Whitefish Bay WI

“Milwaukee County PWA Construction Projects-addition to Cumberland School in Whitefish Bay.”

Currie Park Quarry – Wauwatosa WI

“When federal funds became available under the Civil Works Administration (CWA), with only three weeks of planning time Milwaukee city and county officials developed projects to employ 26,000 workers in the winter of 1933-34 doing landscaping, road grading, street repair… read more

Dane County Regional Airport – Madison WI

“Originally constructed in 1937 with assistance from the WPA, the Madison Municipal Airport was renamed Truax Field during World War II to honor Tommy Truax, a local air cadet killed during a training accident.” The airport is now also known… read more

Dells of the Eau Claire County Park – Aniwa WI

Dells of the Eau Claire County Park has significant New Deal resources in the areas of recreation, conservation, landscape architecture, and architecture thanks to the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Between 1935 and 1942, the CCC greatly enhanced… read more

Department of Public Works Building – Shorewood WI

Shorewood Department of Public Works Building

“Distinguished by its decorative brickwork, turrets, and battlemented parapets, the Shorewood Department of Public Works Administration Building was constructed in 1936 with funding from the federal government’s Works Progress Administration.”

Devil’s Lake State Park – Baraboo WI

"Founded in 1911, Devil's Lake is the third oldest state park in Wisconsin, the largest, and the most visited. Devil's Lake offers magnificent views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake. Enjoy lakeshore picnic areas, sandy swimming beaches, 29… read more

Doctors Park Bathhouse – Bayside / Fox Point WI

Doctors Park Bathhouse - Structural Detail of Front Porch

The Doctors Park Bathhouse in Bayside, Wisconsin, a northern suburb of Milwaukee, is adjacent to Tietjen Beach on Lake Michigan and within 75 feet of the shoreline. This former bathhouse was constructed as a Work Projects Administration (WPA) project in… read more

Doctors Park Bathhouse – Milwaukee WI

“The most visible legacy of WPA projects in Milwaukee County was the parks system, which had more construction and landscaping during the WPA period than any other time in its history. WPA construction included six swimming pools, pavilions at Red… read more