The Mystic

May 21, 1887 Oshkosh Northwestern

Before railroads became the dominant means of conveyance, Menasha, with its presence by water utilized steamboats of all varieties to move cargo and passengers.  In the late 19th and early 20th century, paddlewheel steamboats were in service along Lake Winnebago and the Fox River, similar to ones seen on the Mississippi for example, though on a lesser scale.  Smaller pleasurecraft like the Mystic pictured above were a more affordable and convenient means to take a day long excursion to the other side of Lake Winnebago or to travel down to Oshkosh or Fond du Lac for picnicking.  Docking facilities might be nonexistent to the point of being precarious as seen in the above photo, but that didn't stop determined passengers from boarding.