WHYSCONSIN
Tubas in Wisconsin: Getting down to brass tacks
We recently received a question from Elizabeth Renner of Madison. She asked us, "Why are tubas such a prominent part of the UW-Madison band? And why are they so popular in the state of Wisconsin?" WPR’s Tim Peterson marched right down to the Madison campus to get some answers.
This story is part of Wisconsin Life and WPR's WHYsconsin project. What have you always wondered about Wisconsin, its people or its culture that you want WHYsconsin to look into? You ask the questions, and we find the answers!
LATEST STORIES
Midwest Onewheel: A Thrilling Ride through Wisconsin
Brooks McMahon, one of the founders of Midwest Onewheel and the WinMan Enduro, remembers the first time he took his Onewheel off the pavement and onto the trail.
“I probably rode like 15 miles before my Onewheel touched a trail,” says McMahon.
Capturing the wonders of Wisconsin’s night sky with astrophotographer Rick Wayne
Photographers tend to spend a lot of time with their subjects. For astrophotographer Rick Wayne of Madison, his subject for much of his life has been space. What started off as an interest in taking better pictures soon became something much greater, a sense of glory.
Marching with Father Groppi: Looking back on Milwaukee’s Civil Rights demonstrations
In the summer of 1966, activist Father James Groppi & the NAACP Youth Council led a series of Civil Rights marches in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. As writer and historian John Gurda tells us, he was 19 at the time and one particular night left a lasting impression on him.
Equality Motorsports: Racing for Inclusion at La Crosse Speedway
Racecar driver Bentley Knaack is dedicated to fostering inclusion in the high-speed sport.
“It’s excitement. It’s fear. It’s exhilaration.”
Those are the words racecar driver Bentley Knaack uses to describe the feelings that come from hurtling down the track, winding around turns and opening up on the straightaways at La Crosse Speedway.
Learning to fish ‘for tradition and life’ with Lac du Flambeau youth
The name for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa stems from French traders who observed tribal members harvesting fish from canoes at night by torchlight. More than 200 years later, the Lake Superior tribe is trying to keep such traditions alive by holding camps that teach tribal youth how to fish.
Driving the culture: Eric Ramos and the lowriders of Milwaukee
Eric Ramos is pointing out a few lowrider favorites at the World of Wheels, Milwaukee’s first car show of the year in early 2024.
“’54 Belair. ’35 Packard, ’60 Impala. A ’48 Fleetline German Helmet,” he said with a smile.
The Red Putter: Door County’s Mini-Golf Legacy
The Red Putter Mini-Golf is a family-owned miniature golf course nestled in the heart of Door County, Wisconsin. Renowned for its yearly pro miniature golf tournament each summer, the Red Putter attracts players from all over the country vying to win. The overall winner gets cash, a trophy, and the big prize, a custom red suit jacket.