Manitowoc
Around Manitowoc
Illustration made for Popchat
Town and around · Wisconsin · 81k people
Manitowoc
Locals say Lakeshore · “Maritime City”, “Port City”, “Wisconsin's Maritime City”
Home of the sundae and the submarine
Packers goldMaritime navy
Welcome to the Lakeshore! Whether you're here for the maritime history, the fishing, or just to enjoy the lake breeze, you'll find a friendly community that loves its water. Come for the sundae, stay for the sunsets.
Clubs for Manitowoc
No clubs for Manitowoc yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Manitowoc. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Manitowoc. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum Home to the USS Cobia submarine
- Rawley Point Lighthouse Historic lighthouse in Point Beach State Forest
- Shipwreck Coast Lake Michigan stretch known for shipwrecks
- Point Beach State Forest Beach, trails, and camping
- Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum World's largest collection of wood type
- Rahr-West Art Museum Art in a historic mansion
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Michigan
- Outdoors Hiking at Point Beach State Forest
- With kids Visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum
- With kids Tour the USS Cobia submarine
- Evenings Catch a show at Capitol Civic Centre
- Evenings Listen to live music at a local brewery
- Locals love Lakefront parks
- Locals love Marinas
Through the year
- Manitowoc County Fair August Classic county fair with rides, livestock, and food
- Two Rivers Fish Derby May Spring fishing contest for salmon and trout
- Maritime Days July Summer festival celebrating the area's maritime heritage
- Lakeshore Art Festival June Outdoor arts and crafts fair
- Coho Derby April Early spring salmon fishing tournament
Cold, snowy winters with lake-effect snow; mild summers with cool lake breezes. Best time to be out is late spring to early fall. Best: Late spring to early fall
Talk like a local
- “Lakeshore”
- The region itself
- “the lake”
- Lake Michigan
- “the harbor”
- Manitowoc harbor
- “the sub”
- USS Cobia submarine
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Green Bay Packers (NFL), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Ice cream sundae Claimed to have been invented in Two Rivers in 1881
- Friday fish fry A Wisconsin staple, often cod or perch, served with coleslaw and rye bread
- Bratwurst
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky curds from nearby dairy farms
Where people go
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum Home of the USS Cobia submarine, a National Historic Landmark
- Rawley Point Lighthouse A historic lighthouse on the lakeshore, iconic for the area
- Shipwreck Coast Diving and kayaking along the Lake Michigan shipwreck trail
- Lakeshore beaches and parks Sandy beaches, dunes, and picnic spots along Lake Michigan
Heritage and traditions
Manitowoc is proud of its rich maritime heritage, from shipbuilding and submarine construction to its role as a Great Lakes fishing port, and of quirky local claims like the birthplace of the ice cream sundae and the Sputnik crash site.
This time of year in Manitowoc
- Fall colors Fall Scenic drives and hiking.
Say it like a local: “Bubbler” — Drinking fountain.
Festivals
- Shanty Days July Two Rivers' fishing heritage festival in July.
- Kiel Germanfest August Celebrates German roots with food and music in August.
- Sputnikfest September Quirky September festival marking the 1962 Sputnik IV debris landing.
- Two Rivers Winterfest January Winter celebration with ice skating and hot cocoa.
Landmarks with a story
- Sputnik Monument Marks the spot where Sputnik IV debris landed in 1962.
- Pinecrest Historical Village Living history museum depicting early 20th-century life.
- Rogers Street Fishing Village Preserves Two Rivers' commercial fishing heritage.
- Manitowoc County Courthouse 1906 Beaux-Arts courthouse.
- St. Boniface Catholic Church Historic German parish in Manitowoc.
Food traditions
- Smoked chubs A Lake Michigan delicacy, smoked and often served at fish fries.
- German potato salad Warm, vinegar-based salad served alongside bratwurst.
- Sauerkraut Fermented cabbage served with sausages and pork.
- Fish boil While more common in Door County, some local spots offer this communal meal.
Music and arts
- Polka music German and Czech influence.
- Wood type printing Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum.
- Maritime art Ship paintings and models.
- Community theater Capitol Civic Centre productions.
A little history
- 1836 German settlement
- 1847 City incorporated
- 1860s Shipbuilding industry established
- 1940s Submarine construction for WWII
- 1881 Ice cream sundae invented in Two Rivers
Rivalries
- Manitowoc vs. Two Rivers Friendly dispute over the ice cream sundae origin
- Lincoln High School vs. Two Rivers High School Local football and basketball games
- Game day Fishing tournaments
- Game day Ice fishing derbies
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Michigan
- Outdoors Boating
- With kids Visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum
- With kids Tour the USS Cobia submarine
Wisconsin accent with a flat 'a' and distinctive phrases like 'ope' and 'bubbler'.
Only here
- Sputnik crash site
- Birthplace of the ice cream sundae
- Submarine building legacy
- Lakeshore nickname
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Manitowoc' as 'Man-i-tuh-wok' and 'Kiel' as 'Kyle'.
- Try a Friday fish fry at a local tavern.
- Learn to fish – it's a big part of local life.
- Expect cold, snowy winters; invest in warm gear.
- Take a bike ride on the Mariners Trail.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaSheboyganWisconsinWhere the lake meets the brat.Green BayWisconsinWhere the bay meets the frozen tundra, and the cheese is always fresh.AppletonWisconsinWhere the Fox River winds through friendly neighbourhoodsOshkosh–NeenahWisconsinWhere the river runs and the skies are aliveFond du LacWisconsinA lakeside town with a big Wisconsin heart.Door CountyWisconsinWhere the cherry trees meet the lake.LudingtonMichiganWhere the forest meets the lakeShawanoWisconsinWhere the river runs through the pines.
Manitowoc, WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.