Appleton Wire Works, United States historic place
The Appleton Wire Works is a historic factory in Appleton, Wisconsin, built from solid brick with large windows that once lit the production areas. The structure features the sturdy industrial design typical of its era, with spacious interior rooms where wire cloth and wire products were manufactured for mills throughout the region.
The factory was founded in 1896 as the Midwest's first wire cloth manufacturing plant and grew to become one of the largest wire-weaving facilities in the country. Operations ceased in 1968 after over seven decades, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
The name reflects the wire products once made here for mills across the region. Today, locals view the building as a symbol of their town's working heritage, and residents share personal memories of the factory's importance to their families and daily lives.
The building sits on East Atlantic Street and is visible from the outside, where you can see the brick walls and industrial structure clearly. Check local tourism information for details on guided tours or visiting hours, as the site is not open as a full museum but can be viewed from the street.
This was the Midwest's first wire cloth manufacturing facility and at its peak the largest wire-weaving factory in the entire country. This remarkable achievement often goes unnoticed when visitors simply see a quiet brick building from the street.
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