Wisconsin is home some of the most beautiful beaches in the Midwest, and some of the best beaches can be found along the Lake Michigan shoreline. But there are risks to swimming in open water, and sometimes currents develop that can lead to deadly outcomes. Tragic events have happened at a busy Milwaukee beach, leading to efforts to make the shoreline safer. Here’s a look at Milwaukee’s McKinley Beach, a historically dangerous Wisconsin beach.
McKinley Beach is located in the heart of Milwaukee. The beach was formed in the 1800s, when the construction of a breakwater caused a sliver of soft sand to gather on the city’s lakeshore.
The beach was named after President William McKinley, following his 1901 assassination. The beach was later rebuilt, in the 1980s, due to rising water levels on Lake Michigan.
On some days it was also dangerous, due to the currents that sometimes develop here. There have been fatal accidents, as well as many close calls over the years. Rip currents sometimes form at the rocks that flank each end of the beach. The currents have pulled beachgoers into deeper water, which led to tragic drownings.
Learn more about the Milwaukee lakefront, inclduing water conditions on Milwaukee beaches, on the Milwaukee County website. Are you interested in learning about more Wisconsin natural attractions? Here are some places to enjoy outdoor activities in Wisconsin.
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