Appleton, WI Summary

Appleton (population 70,087) is less than an hour south of Green Bay on Hwy 41. Located on the northern shores of Lake Winnebago, it is the major city in this area, which is known as the Fox River Valley. Like several of the other cities here, Appleton is a leading manufacturer of paper products.

One of the biggest attractions in town is devoted to Appleton’s most famous resident, Harry Houdini.

This illusionist/magician, who captivated America in the early twentieth century with his incredible escape acts, spent his boyhood years here after his family moved from Budapest. The Houdini Historical Center houses a collection of information about him from posters to the actual handcuffs he used in some of his performances.

The Fox Cities Children’s Museum has interactive exhibits that cover a wide range of topics, from wildlife and health to other cultures. Baseball fans, both young and old, will enjoy minor league baseball in Appleton at Fox Valley Stadium, the home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the only A club of the big league Seattle Mariners.