Green Bay, Wisconsin, beyond the surface
Most people think of football when they hear Green Bay. But the city's story is older, broader, and filled with twists that go far beyond its sporting reputation.
It began with trade routes, grew through industries, and still carries reminders of those changes. Culture, education, and green spaces added more to its character.
Together, these parts reveal a Green Bay that is more layered than its national image. The city has quirks, hidden histories, and stories that still shape everyday life here.
Green Bay is Wisconsin's oldest city
Green Bay traces its origins to 1634, when French explorer Jean Nicolet arrived at the mouth of the Fox River.
He established a fur-trading post, making the site the first European settlement in Wisconsin.
Its location became vital for trade between French settlers and Native tribes, including the Ho-Chunk and Menominee, who already used the river as a route.
As time passed, the outpost grew into a center for fur, lumber, and later paper production.
Green Bay is the smallest U.S. city with an NFL team
Despite having just over 100,000 residents, Green Bay supports one of the most famous professional sports teams in the country.
It remains the smallest U.S. city to host a major league franchise.
The Green Bay Packers, formed in 1919, survived when many early small-market football teams folded.
The combination of loyal fans, community ownership, and historic success has kept the team in place for over a century.
Lambeau Field seats more than 80,000, meaning the stadium can hold nearly the entire population of the city.
This unusual balance between size and sports power makes Green Bay stand out nationwide.
Green Bay once led the world in toilet paper production
Green Bay became an industrial leader in the early 20th century thanks to its booming paper industry.
Northern Paper Mills, based in the city, was once the world's largest producer of toilet paper.
This unusual claim to fame earned Green Bay the lighthearted nickname "Toilet Paper Capital of the World." Alongside other paper companies, the industry shaped employment and defined the city's economy for decades.
Although the industry has shifted and consolidated, Green Bay's reputation for paper products remains part of its story.
The Packers are the only community-owned NFL team
Since 1923, the Green Bay Packers have operated as a nonprofit corporation, owned by fans who hold thousands of small shares.
This unique structure has kept the team in Green Bay, preventing relocation to larger markets.
No single shareholder can dominate, and profits go back into the organization.
Over 500,000 people currently hold stock certificates, which can't be resold but symbolize civic pride.
When new stock sales occur, fans eagerly buy in, even though the shares provide no dividends.
This arrangement is unlike anything else in American sports and remains the reason Green Bay retains its rare position in the NFL.
Hotel Northland hosted presidents and celebrities
Built in 1924, Hotel Northland became the largest hotel in Wisconsin at the time and served as a luxury destination for travelers.
Its guest list included presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and football coach Vince Lombardi.
For decades, it was considered one of the finest hotels in the Midwest. After years of decline, the hotel was restored and reopened in 2019 as part of the Packers Heritage Trail.
Its revival blends modern amenities with preserved historic details, keeping its reputation alive.
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest of its kind
Established in 1935, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary has grown into a 535-acre urban refuge.
It is Wisconsin's second-largest wildlife rehabilitation facility and Green Bay's largest public park.
The sanctuary offers hiking trails, wildlife viewing areas, and rehabilitation services for injured animals.
Visitors often see deer, waterfowl, and raptors being cared for or released.
Its combination of recreation and conservation makes it unique in the Midwest. For residents, it serves as both a quiet natural escape and a civic point of pride.
The sanctuary reflects how Green Bay balanced its industrial economy with an enduring commitment to environmental stewardship.
Green Bay earned fame as "Titletown USA"
During the 1960s, the Packers dominated professional football under legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
The team won five championships in seven years, including the first two Super Bowls.
The city became known nationally as "Titletown USA," a nickname that celebrated Green Bay's outsized success compared to its small population.
The phrase was reinforced by the city's proud embrace of championship culture, with landmarks, banners, and media outlets using it widely.
Today, the "Titletown" district near Lambeau Field continues to use the nickname, blending retail, restaurants, and entertainment with football history.
It symbolizes the enduring link between Green Bay's identity and winning.
Green Bay's high school rivalry is the oldest in Wisconsin
Green Bay East and Green Bay West High Schools have been playing football against each other since 1905, making their matchup the longest continuously running high school rivalry in Wisconsin.
The game once attracted thousands of spectators and carried as much intensity as professional sports in the city.
While the rivalry's prominence has faded in recent years, it remains a cherished local tradition.
Alumni and community members recall the pride and competition surrounding the annual contest.
Bay Beach Amusement Park dates to the 1890s
Bay Beach Amusement Park began as Bay View Beach in the 1890s, originally intended for cottages, but it was transformed into a lively resort.
In 1901, it featured its first roller coaster, and in 1908, a "Shoot the Chutes" water ride.
By 1920, owners Frank Emery Murphy and Fred A. Rahr donated the site to the city for public use.
Over the decades, the park hosted dances, concerts, and even a visit from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for Green Bay's tercentennial in 1934.
Today, it remains a local favorite with classic rides, a Ferris wheel, a miniature train, and recent additions like a restored Zippin Pippin roller coaster.
The Astor Historic District is a preserved 19th-century neighborhood
The Astor Historic District in Green Bay preserves an area developed from 1835. It is listed on both state and national historical registers.
Originally part of early settlement patterns, the district covers about 153 acres and includes "The Hill," one of the city's most prominent features.
Its architecture spans Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Italianate, and Prairie School styles, showcasing homes of civic leaders and early settlers.
Early log cabins still stand among more elaborate homes from the 1895–1929 boom.
The district offers a visual narrative of Green Bay's growth from fur trade roots into a prosperous modern city.
The Meyer Theatre is a restored Art Deco landmark
Built in 1929 as the Fox Theatre, the building is a striking blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival styles.
It opened February 14, 1930, with a festival attended by Fox Films officials.
After a long decline, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and restored by 2003.
Renamed in honor of businessman Robert T. Meyer, today it serves as a performing arts venue managed under the Weidner Center's direction, hosting concerts, theater, and community events.
UW–Green Bay is known as "Eco U" for sustainability
Founded in 1965, the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay is a public university known for its environmental focus, earning it the nickname "Eco U" in 1971.
It emphasizes sustainability across academics and campus design, and as of 2024, it had a student population of over 11,000.
UW–Green Bay also maintains multiple regional campuses and features a 290-acre Cofrin Arboretum with miles of public trails for recreation and ecology education.
Green Bay balances sports with arts and culture
While football dominates its image, Green Bay has long fostered arts and cultural events. The city hosts ArtStreet, a major annual festival showcasing local and regional artists.
The Neville Public Museum provides exhibits on regional history, science, and art, while the restored Tarlton Theatre offers live performances.
Green Bay also features film events, music showcases, and heritage celebrations reflecting its diverse community.
These outlets remind residents and visitors that the city is not defined solely by the Packers.
The thriving arts scene provides balance, ensuring that Green Bay's identity includes creativity and culture alongside its enduring reputation as a sports powerhouse.