Part 10/15:
Western Lakes: Wisconsin’s "Nieuport West" and the Rise of Lake Geneva
Across the country, affluent Midwestern families flocked to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, dubbed the "Nieuport of the West" due to its concentration of grand palaces. After the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, Chicago’s elite found solace here, transforming the lakeside into a luxurious resort with chateau-like mansions such as the Reegley, Schween, and Mettler estates. These properties boasted private boat docks, handsome grounds, and exquisite furnishings.