Mayor's Welcome

Welcome to the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Home of the Great Spirit. On behalf of the citizens of the City of Manitowoc, it is my pleasure to invite you to our charming and historic community.

Being Wisconsin’s Maritime Capital, we take great pride in being the home of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. Our museum captures the history of Manitowoc on Lake Michigan and the entire great lakes region.  It highlights our history in World War II and the building of 28 submarines for the war effort. Take a tour on the USS Cobia, a submarine docked in the Manitowoc River.

Located directly on Lake Michigan, we take pride in our beautiful scenery and lakefront. Along our shores includes the Manitowoc Marina which is a multi-million dollar Full Service Marina Complex.  This state-of-the-art marina is only a three hour drive from Chicago, ninety minutes from Milwaukee, and a half day sail from popular Door County. Take a walk or bike ride along Mariners Trail which stretches 13 miles on the lake from Manitowoc to Two Rivers.

From there take a walk to our downtown which has several shops for everyone’s satisfaction. From downtown you can walk to the Rahr-West Art Museum which exists as an 1891-93 mansion on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was given to the City of Manitowoc in 1941 by its owner, Mrs. Clara Rahr, with the purpose to be used as a museum and civic center.

Our community has thrived on our manufacturing foundation. From building boats for war efforts when Abraham Lincoln was President, to mega-yachts at our world famous Burger Boat Company.  From cranes and ice machines at the world renowned Manitowoc Company. From our I-43 industrial park. Or even from ice cream at Cedar Crest or Beerntsen's.

I hope you enjoy all that Manitowoc has to offer from this website - then come see for yourself.

“To those who say that America's best day's are behind them, let them come here, to Manitowoc. Let them come to this once shuttered factory that is now bustling with workers building new technologies for the world. Let them come here to see the incredible promise of our country. This is the future, and it is bright.”  - President Barack Obama, visiting Orion Energy Systems, Manitowoc, WI. January 26, 2011

Justin M. Nickels
Mayor, City of Manitowoc