Lake Delavan is of glacial origin caused by the terminal moraine of the Delavan lobe. Lakes Delavan and Geneva lie between the Elkhorn and Darien Moraines.

• The Indian mounds, there are at least 159 mounds, were built around Delavan Lake (a few are in the park), by the Indians who are referred to today as Effigy Mounds Builders, probably before 1000 A.D. One was excavated and showed a construction in layers, cobblestone, gravel, fine white sand, blue clay, the bodies facing the lake, soil/clay mixture, then a fire apparently on top of baked clay. Archeologists who excavated and documented mounds in the area in 1911 increases the respect of the mounds. Early construction in the Park have destroyed many of the mounds.

• In 1925, the Delavan Women's Club, placed a marker near the mounds. In 1975 the maker was replaced by the current marker.

• Lake numbered well over 200, according to an archeological survey done in the late 1800's by Beloit College. Many were along the north shore of the lake where Lake Lawn Resort now stands. The Potawatomi Indians also settled around the lake in the late 18th century, although there were only an estimated 240 in the county. Some of their burial mounds are preserved in what is now Assembly Park.

1800's • In the 1800s, the area was part of Samuel and Henry Phoenix's temperance colony.

• Between the years of 1800 and 1836 the Delavan area was part of the Indiana Territory, followed by the Illinois Territory

1800's • In the 1800s, the area was part of Samuel and Henry Phoenix's temperance colony.

• Between the years of 1800 and 1836 the Delavan area was part of the Indiana Territory, followed by the Illinois Territory.

• In 1936, Allen Perkins, the first known settler in the Delavan area was from the Rockford, Illinois area.

• Samuel Phoenix and his brother both from New York arrived in Chicago and traveled north, in 1836, there search desirable spot to start with a temperance colony.

• Delavan was named by Phoenix - E. C. Delavan, whose surname the city now bears, was a temperance leader in New York State.

September 26, 1833 • Pottawatomie Indians lived along the shores of Delavan lake when the treaty

• Pottawatomie Indians ceded these lands to the US government, following the Blackhawk war.

• The tribe agreed to move west of west of the Mississippi River.

1845 • End of temperance in Delavan.

1847 • Edmund and Jeremiah Mabie, proprietors of the U.S. Olympic Circus – then the largest traveling show in America – chose Delavan for their winter quarters. 24 years later the Ringling Brothers started business in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

• The Mabie Circus created a circus dynasty that survived in Wisconsin for the next 100 years - the circus was located where Lake Lawn Resort is currently located on Delavan Lake.

May 29, 1848 • Wisconsin was admitted to the Union.

1847 - 1894 • Delavan was home to 26 circus companies. The Mabie Brothers U.S. Olympic Circus, then the largest in America, arrived in 1847, to become the first circus to quarter in the territory of Wisconsin.

• Its famous rogue elephant, "Romeo", stood 10+1⁄2 feet high, and 10,500 pounds.

• In 1840 Samuel Phoenix died in 1840 from tuberculosis and his brother died in 1842. Both are buried in Old Settler’s Cemetery, located in the 300 block of McDowell Street.

1847 - 1859 • The circus story begins with the Mabie brothers and Seth Howes who operated the largest circus in America from 1847-1859.
• They began wintering in Delavan in 1847 and bought land around the lake.
• The property that later became Assembly Park was called Mabie Woods.
• Mabie Woods owned for many years by the Mabie family. It was purchased from their heirs.

• The circus was sold to P.T. Barnum in 1892.
• Fred and Blanche Cevene circus acrobats, made at least 17 property purchases in Assembly Park.
• He and his wife traveled around the world with their circus act.
• Click here for more photos and information

May 29, 1848 • Wisconsin was admitted to the Union.

1852 • Bradley’s Department Store opens in Delavan

1856 • Irish laborers arrived with the construction of the railroad and settled in Delavan, but it was not a warm welcome by the Baptist element already established in Delavan.

Winter 1862 • Romeo and Juliet were large Indian elephants that the Mabie circus wintered on the Delavan lakeshore.

• When Juliet died on a cold winter day in 1862.

• A team of horses drag her onto the frozen lake.

• Saws were used to cut a circle around her carcass and Juliet sank to her resting place.

• Seventy years later, in 1932, a giant leg bone was recovered from the lake and sent to the Chicago Natural History Museum.

1871 • The original P. T. Barnum Circus was organized in Delavan, by William C. Coup and Dan Costello. Over 130 members of Delavan's 19th century circus colony are buried in Spring Grove and St. Andrew cemeteries.

• In 1871, The P.T. Barnum Circus, “The Greatest Show On Earth,” was founded in Delavan.

• In 1875 Development at Delavan Lake began with the first permanent residence Dr. Fredrick L. VonSuessmilch in along the north shore of the lake.

•Many of the residents were summer retreats for Chicagoans who came up on the train, which at that time stopped here 6 times a day during the summer months.

1878 • The original hotel, built on the area where Lake Lawn Resort is currently located, was built in 1878 as a place for members of the Mabie Circus to stay. When the circus was bought by Barnum and Bailey, it became the winter headquarters of that circus.

1874 • Chautauqua was founded by inventor Lewis Miller and Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent as a teaching camp for Sunday-school teachers.

• Every summer during its nine-week season, Chautauqua Institution provides an array of programs including fine and performing arts, lectures, worship services, and religious programs, as well as recreational activities.

• Christian instruction, preaching, and worship were a big part of the Chautauqua experience. Although the movement was founded by Methodists, nondenominationalism was a Chautauqua principle from the beginning.

1883 • Construction started on the original 50-room Lake Lawn Hotel.

1883-1897 • W. R. Harper, who directed the Chautauqua Institution's national program. A strong supporter of lifelong learning. Harper helped to establish both the University of Chicago and Bradley University and served as the first president of both institutions.

1890's • In the 1890's, a group of Delavan citizens formed a Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) - sometimes called the first American book club. There were more than 10,000 CLSC's throughout the United States in the late1800's.

1892 • The Delavan Lake Yacht Club was organized.

• Lake Delavan is the lake on which Buddy Melges learned to sail.

• Buddy' Melges, Jr. is considered to be the greatest sailor in the sport of sailing.

• Delavan Lake Improvement Association - started its goal to help improve, protect Delavan Lake's quality. More info

• Electricity was first brought to Delavan.

• Delavan became a city.

• Edward Cornelius Delavan (1793–1871) was a wealthy businessman who devoted much of his fortune to promoting the temperance movement. He helped establish the American Temperance Union - Prohibition or dry towns in Illinois and Wisconsin were named in his honor, but, E.C. Delavan never was in Delavan.

1897 • Delavan Lake Assembly Announcements - incorporating under the laws of Wisconsin. The Delavan Lake Assembly became a legal entity on August 12, 1898.

1898 • The first session of the Delavan Chautauqua attracted about 3,000 people.

• Even at the first meeting in 1898, three meals a day were served - presumably from tent structure.

October 18th • Delavan Lake Assembly - Stock certificate for share number 3 issued to J.J. Phoenix on 10/18/1898.

• The 38 acre parcel of property, know as Mabiewood, was purchased by Delavan Lake Assembly for $15,000 from the heirs of the Mabie family.

• The Assembly Park charter provided for the issuance of 300 shares of stock par value of $100.

1899 • This building was completed (at the cost of $3500) for the 1899 session which featured Jane Addams of Hull House and many other speakers.

• The dates of the first Assembly were July 26 through August 3, 1898. It attracted up ot 3,000 people a day during the two-week sessions.

• The 1900 session included William Jennings Bryant. Programs included lectures on religion, politics, science, literature, music and arts. Sporting events, especially water, were organized.

• The Delavan newspaper from July 28, 1898 said “a steady stream of teams was nearing the entrance to the grounds from the west. while the boat from Lake Lawn was making half hour trips and leaving full loads at the pier every trip.”

July 1899 • The Delavan Lake Auditorium (above) was built and ready for the second session, of The Delavan Chautauqua. Roads were laid out, lots were arranged, and Assembly Park was born.

• The Delavan Lake Auditorium (above) side of the building facing the lake.

1899 • The various small hills in the photo are some of the many Indian burial mounds that existed in the central park area at that time. The pointed one in the foreground is unusual. The mounds are probably all constructed before 1000 AD by Indians referred to today as the Mound Builders. Pottawatomie Indians also lived around Lake Delavan until 1836.

1899 • Dining Hall was been built. Link to more details.

• Thousands of people were fed daily during the summer sessions.

1899 • Horse-drawn taxis picked up vacationers at the rain station and brought them to the park.

1899 • For nearly 70 years (click for more info)
• The Delavan Lake area was widely known for its summer resorts and hotels.
• Most of which contained ballrooms or dance pavilions.
• At one time there were probably more ballrooms per capita on Delavan Lake than any other locale in America.