Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wyland Whaling Wall 72

History of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wyland Whaling Wall 72

-Whale Commuters

Whaling wall 72

Installed on the Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex, Wyland’s “Whale Commuters”; mural connected residents of inland Wisconsin to the ocean in an effort to expand their conservation efforts. Majestic whales and dolphins “commute” through this mural in an imaginary underwater scene. F. Thomas Ament, county executive in Milwaukee, dedicated this mural and hoped to draw attention to the idea that even a landlocked city can make a difference.

In 2006, freeway expansion called for the unfortunate removal of this mural. However, Wyland’s message and that of the Wyland Foundation remains clear: communities must feel a connection to their watersheds if we ever hope to mitigate pollution in urban areas, particularly those that flow downstream to larger bodies of water. The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation and other educational outreach opportunities from the Wyland Foundation inspire communities to take such action.

Did You Know?

Situation on the shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is among the great American cities within the Great Lakes Basin, whose watershed leads directly to one of the largest bodies of freshwater in the world.
The Menomonee River, a tributary to Lake Michigan, has been the focus of Milwaukee efforts to reduce sewage overflows with the hope of improving the quality of water.

Milwaukee faced urban stormwater runoff challenges in the late 1990s, which brought significant pollution to Lake Michigan. Thanks to the Clean Water Act, management provisions for
stormwater began to address these issues, drawing attention to residents of Wisconsin that their actions impact the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex
907 North 10th Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
76 Feet Long x 37 Feet High
Dedicated September 15th, 1997
By F. Thomas Ament, County Executive

OUR news

Latest from Blog

Check out our latest and newest blogs for detailed articles on Wyland’s achievements, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and giveaways. Shop Wyland, and all proceeds from your purchases directly support our efforts to bring people together for clean water and healthy oceans.