Traces of the Past (3) LbNA #73204
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Add Location| Owner: | Queen G and Stubby
 |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 23, 2018 |
| Location: | Estabrook Park, 4400 N. Estabrook Dr. |
| City: | Milwaukee |
| County: | Milwaukee |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Found by: | Queen G and Stubby (3) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 27, 2025 |
| Status: | FFFFO |
| Last edited: | Aug 27, 2025 |
This series of 3 letterboxes is dedicated to the kids of the Milwaukee area. Kids, get out there and explore - you never know what cool things you will discover! This series can be found in Estabrook Park, which is one of many beautiful Milwaukee County Parks. Park in the large parking lot nearest to the Estabrook Beer Garden.
Walk southwest toward the Beer Garden building. To the north of the building you will find a kiosk telling about the park and about some "traces of the past" that can be found in this park - what are they?
Go to the back of the building and look for a stone stairway leading down to the Milwaukee River. Walk down the limestone steps and as you go keep an eye out for some "traces of the past" since there might be some hiding in these very steps! There is a lot of limestone in this part of Wisconsin and fossils can be found in this kind of rock.
At the bottom of the steps you will see the Milwaukee River. Take a compass reading of 330 degrees and take the path that goes in this direction. Look for the stone wall that goes along the river. The path will split very soon and you should take the path on the right. Stop when you are in line with the end of the stone wall. Take 7 steps past the end of the wall and look for a large oak tree on your right. The first fossil is hidden in a cave on the south (and slightly east) side of this tree. Stamp in and please hide the box well. This park can be very busy especially on the weekends, so watch out for muggles.
Continue heading down the same trail and soon you will come to a large, cement utility box with graffiti on it. Keep on going and look for a ditch that crosses the trail. There may be water running down the ditch some times of the year. Continue on the right-hand trail since it may be less muddy. These two trails run parallel to each other, then they will come together very briefly when you come to a stairway on your right. Go up the stairs.
At the top, set your compass to 80 degrees and look for a clump of trees. Cross the bike trail safely and find a 3 trunked tree in this clump. Fossil number 2 is hidden at the base of the tree under a rock and some wood. Please remember to hide the box well when you are done!
Onward for the third and final fossil which happens to be our Wisconsin state fossil. Do you know what it could be? Go back to the bike trail and set your compass to 350 degrees and walk in this direction. Soon you will see 3 trees on your right that are fairly close to the trail. Continue on a bit and look for a dirt path leading to the right. From the bike trail, walk 36 steps down the dirt path. Look for a large tree laying on its side. Hiding where the tree trunk makes a “V”, your final fossil awaits! Stamp in and hide the box well when you are done.
All of these fossils can be found in Wisconsin and even here in Estabrook Park. When you get back to the starting point, check out the limestone rocks along the river - you might just spot a real fossil!
Hike length: 1 mile
Walk southwest toward the Beer Garden building. To the north of the building you will find a kiosk telling about the park and about some "traces of the past" that can be found in this park - what are they?
Go to the back of the building and look for a stone stairway leading down to the Milwaukee River. Walk down the limestone steps and as you go keep an eye out for some "traces of the past" since there might be some hiding in these very steps! There is a lot of limestone in this part of Wisconsin and fossils can be found in this kind of rock.
At the bottom of the steps you will see the Milwaukee River. Take a compass reading of 330 degrees and take the path that goes in this direction. Look for the stone wall that goes along the river. The path will split very soon and you should take the path on the right. Stop when you are in line with the end of the stone wall. Take 7 steps past the end of the wall and look for a large oak tree on your right. The first fossil is hidden in a cave on the south (and slightly east) side of this tree. Stamp in and please hide the box well. This park can be very busy especially on the weekends, so watch out for muggles.
Continue heading down the same trail and soon you will come to a large, cement utility box with graffiti on it. Keep on going and look for a ditch that crosses the trail. There may be water running down the ditch some times of the year. Continue on the right-hand trail since it may be less muddy. These two trails run parallel to each other, then they will come together very briefly when you come to a stairway on your right. Go up the stairs.
At the top, set your compass to 80 degrees and look for a clump of trees. Cross the bike trail safely and find a 3 trunked tree in this clump. Fossil number 2 is hidden at the base of the tree under a rock and some wood. Please remember to hide the box well when you are done!
Onward for the third and final fossil which happens to be our Wisconsin state fossil. Do you know what it could be? Go back to the bike trail and set your compass to 350 degrees and walk in this direction. Soon you will see 3 trees on your right that are fairly close to the trail. Continue on a bit and look for a dirt path leading to the right. From the bike trail, walk 36 steps down the dirt path. Look for a large tree laying on its side. Hiding where the tree trunk makes a “V”, your final fossil awaits! Stamp in and hide the box well when you are done.
All of these fossils can be found in Wisconsin and even here in Estabrook Park. When you get back to the starting point, check out the limestone rocks along the river - you might just spot a real fossil!
Hike length: 1 mile