The waterfront has always played a significant role in the City of Rhinelander. In the 1870’s, explorers traveled up the Wisconsin River to the confluence of the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers in search of timber, and found an ideal location for what would eventually become the City of Rhinelander. Since then the river has been used as a mode of transportation, for commerce and for recreation. Development patterns along the river, particularly in the downtown area, reflect the important role the river has played in commerce. Today, however, the river’s role in commerce has diminished to some degree and the need to explore new ways to best utilize the riverfront are necessary.
