Exploring the Driftless: History, Geology, and More

A portal to the history, geology, geography, stories and more about
the Driftless region of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
It is very much under development

Farm in the Driftless Area - panoramio.jpg

The Driftless is defined by its unique geological history

What and where is the Driftless?
The Wyalusing River - when the Wisconsin flowed east
The Lower Wisconsin River Valley
Upcoming subjects
The Kickapoo River Valley
Military Ridge
The Great Flood
Glacial Lake Wisconsin
Springs and trout streams
Microclimates
Impact of the ice sheets
A karst landscape
Deeply inscribed by water

Human settlement

Upcoming subjects

When did humans first settle the Driftless?
What did the land look like then?
How did the Native tribes live?
Folkways
Connections and trade
Effigy mounds
Archeological sites

European settlement

Upcoming subjects

Lead mining
The first farmers
Railroads
Mills
The battle for county seats
Logging and lumber rafting
Steamboats
Bridging the Wisconsin
Changes to the river
Recreating the landscape
The Driftless in the Civil War

A refuge and America's Dairyland

Upcoming subjects

Black communities
Religious communities
Noted individuals and eccentrics
The failure of wheat and the rise of dairy
The rise of agribusiness and selective outmigration

About The Driftless

The Driftless is a platform dedicated to celebrating the wonders of the Driftless region. It collects, compiles and links to books, articles and experts on all the things that make the Driftless so unique. If you have a story to tell or an interesting fact we can include, contact us.