In the years between 1850 and 1900, numerous people from Glarus emigrated to the United States, motivated by economic difficulties, the search for better living conditions and the pursuit of new opportunities. Their travel routes took them across the Atlantic, through vibrant port cities such as New York and along impressive waterways such as the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. Some even chose an adventurous detour via New Orleans and the Mississippi River to finally land in the green, inviting landscape of Wisconsin.
As I already wrote in my blog about Le Havre, this emigration port was by far the most important starting point for emigrants from Glarus to America in the 19th century.
The journey of the Glarus emigrants from Glarus to Le Havre in the years 1860 to 1900 was already much easier and faster than in previous decades, as the transportation network, especially the railroad network, had developed considerably in Europe. The use of modern means of transportation made it possible for emigrants to complete the journey in less time and with less effort than was previously the case with riverboats and horse-drawn carriages.
Rail journey from Glarus to Basel
In the 1840s and 1850s, there was still no developed railroad network in Switzerland, so emigrants initially had to make the journey out of the valley on foot or by horse and cart.
Even in the 1860s, Switzerland was not yet fully connected to the rail network, but from 1879 there was a direct rail link that made it possible to reach the first major transportation hubs from Glarus. Initially, emigrants had to travel from the villages and valleys of the Glarus region to one of the railroad stations, for example in Ziegelbrücke or Glarus.
Glarus was first connected to the Swiss railroad network in 1859 and in 1875 the railroad line was extended further south from Glarus, initially to Schwanden and later on to Linthal. Ziegelbrücke had already been connected to Zurich since 1858 via the Rapperswil-Ziegelbrücke line, which gave Glarus access to the important Swiss commercial and industrial centers such as Zurich and Winterthur. This route was of central importance, as it not only facilitated the transportation of passengers, but also of goods, especially products from the flourishing Glarus textile industry. The rail link from Zurich to Basel, an important hub for emigration to Le Havre, Antwerp, Bremen and Hamburg, had also existed since 1856.
Rail journey from Basel to Le Havre
Basel was an important hub for Rhine shipping early on. Many emigrants from Glarus traveled down the Rhine from Basel on riverboats before the railroad network was expanded. These ships traveled to Cologne, Düsseldorf or to the mouth of the Rhine in the Netherlands. From there, they could either continue by coach to Antwerp or travel to the neighboring port cities in order to reach Le Havre or Antwerp by sea.
As industrialization progressed, the railroad network in Europe was expanded from the middle of the 19th century. A rail link from Basel to Strasbourg in France already existed from the early 1850s, meaning that emigrants were increasingly able to use this route. From Strasbourg, emigrants could travel on to Paris or directly to Le Havre. The route from Paris to Le Havre had been connected by a direct rail line since 1847. The journey only took a few hours and was one of the last stages of the journey to Le Havre. The railroad infrastructure in France was already well developed at this time, so that emigrants could reach the Atlantic port comfortably and relatively quickly.
Arrival in Le Havre and departure for New York
Le Havre was one of the most important European emigration ports in the 19th century, especially for Swiss and German emigrants (see my blog about Le Havre). On arrival in Le Havre, emigrants had to wait for their ship to New York, which could take several days. Le Havre was a busy port and there were many hostels and accommodation options for travelers waiting to depart.
At this time, the transatlantic journey from Le Havre to New York took around 10 to 15 days on the increasingly efficient steamships. Steamships had been established since the 1860s, which made the sea voyage considerably shorter and safer compared to sailing ships. A crossing by sailing ship had previously taken 30 to 45 days.
Arrival in New York
In over 90% of cases, the Glarner arrived in New York, a main arrival point for European immigrants. They went through the immigration procedures there, which at that time were still carried out in Manhattan (Castle Garden, the forerunner of Ellis Island). For a more detailed description of the immigration procedure, see my blog about Le Havre.
Travel from New York to Milwaukee or Racine
At that time, it was common for emigrants to travel on by various means of transportation after arriving in New York.
First stage: Voyage on the Hudson River and through the Great Lakes
The emigrants used steamboats or freight boats on the Hudson River to Albany. From Albany, they traveled on the Erie Canal to Buffalo on Lake Erie.
In Buffalo, they transferred to steamboats that traveled across the Great Lakes (Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan) to Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Milwaukee was one of the most important ports of arrival for European immigrants in Wisconsin at the time.
The journey on the Hudson River from New York to Albany was the first leg and was usually made by steamboat and took about a day.
After arriving in Albany, the travelers transferred to canal boats that took them along the Erie Canal to Buffalo on Lake Erie. The Erie Canal was about 363 miles (584 kilometers) long and one of the most important waterways in the country. Travel on the canal typically took about 6 to 7 days, depending on weather conditions and the speed of the boats. Steamboat travel on the canal was relatively slow, and there were numerous locks that took time.
In Buffalo, passengers switched to steamboats that traveled across the Great Lakes, first across Lake Erie, then through Lake Huron and finally across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee. The steamboats of the 1880s were already quite modern and reliable. The trip from Buffalo to Milwaukee via the Great Lakes took about 3 to 5 days, depending on weather conditions and stopovers (for example in Cleveland or Detroit).
Taken together, the entire journey from New York to Milwaukee took about 10 to 14 days, depending on factors such as weather, waiting times at the Erie Canal locks and the speed of the steamboats.
This route was one of the most frequently used for immigrants and travelers heading to the Midwest of the USA before the expansion of the rail network became faster and more convenient. Alternatively, there were already railroad connections that were a faster but more expensive option.
Travel from Milwaukee to New Glarus
After arriving in Milwaukee or Racine, the settlers had to travel the rest of the way to New Glarus, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Milwaukee, on foot, by horse-drawn wagon or oxcart. The journey was arduous as there was no developed infrastructure. The roads were often poor or non-existent. Many settlers moved on in small groups to support each other. The final stages of the journey through Wisconsin took several days to weeks, depending on weather conditions and the state of the roads.
Conclusion
The journey from the Glarus Alps in Switzerland to New Glarus, Wisconsin, included a long and arduous sea voyage across the Atlantic, a steamboat ride through the Great Lakes and finally a strenuous overland trek through the wilderness of Wisconsin. It was a grueling and dangerous journey that could take several weeks and months, but it eventually led the Glarner to their new home in the Midwestern United States.
Alternative itinerary via New Orleans and the Mississippi River
New York to New Orleans (by sea)
After arriving in New York, emigrants could travel by steamship along the east coast and through the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans. There were regular ship connections between New York and New Orleans, which were used in particular for the transportation of goods, but also carried passengers.
The voyage from New York to New Orleans took about 8 to 10 days in the 1880s, depending on weather conditions and the type of ship. Steamships operating on this route were generally reliable, but storms or other delays could lengthen the journey.
From New Orleans up the Mississippi
In New Orleans, travelers could transfer to river steamers that took them up the Mississippi River. The Mississippi was one of the most important waterways in North America, and steam navigation on the river was well established in the 19th century.
The journey from New Orleans across the Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri, an important transportation hub, took about 7 to 10 days, depending on the speed of the steamboat and the current of the river.
From St. Louis, steamboats or riverboats continued up the Mississippi and then the Wisconsin River. The journey on these rivers took another 2 to 3 days until the travelers reached the Wisconsin area.
From the rivers to New Glarus (overland route)
After arriving in Wisconsin, typically in towns like Prairie du Chien or La Crosse, which were located on the Mississippi River, travelers either had to continue overland or use the railroad connections available at the time.
The journey from these towns to New Glarus could be made by horse-drawn carriage or stagecoach if no direct rail connection was available. By the 1880s, however, there were railroad connections to Madison, Wisconsin, and from there on to the vicinity of New Glarus. This last leg of the journey usually took 1 to 2 days, depending on the means of transportation available and the route.
Total duration of the trip
The entire journey from New York to New Glarus via New Orleans and the Mississippi would have taken around 18 to 25 days in the 1880s. This depended on the availability of transportation, weather conditions and possible delays during the journey.
Although this route was significantly longer than the direct trip via the Erie Canal and Great Lakes, it may have been chosen for a variety of reasons, such as the availability of boat connections to New Orleans, the ability to use the Mississippi River as a fast waterway, or alternate routes in case of seasonal or weather-related problems on other routes.
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