Columbia Fun Maps – Wisconsin Featuring Milwaukee, Madison & Green Bay

An useful resource for LGBTQ+ tourists to Wisconsin during the mid 1990s.

“The Columbia FunMaps Company claimed to cover “the Gay and Lesbian World.” They issued travel maps for American cities like New York, Atlanta, and Washington, DC, but also for European cities like Amsterdam, Zürich, and Hamburg.” – New York Public Library.

This tourist map of Wisconsin and the cities of Madison, Green Bay, and Milwaukee was published in 1996 by the Columbia FunMaps Company. Aiming for an LGBTQ+ audience, simple street plans locate various amenities that would have been welcoming. Hotels, bars, nightclubs, spas, and other attractions are listed, but only a few are pinpointed within the maps. Surrounding advertisements present further tempting options, including PrideFest ’96.

The maps published by the Columbia FunMap Company of New York are vital historical catalogs of the LGBTQ+ “gay economy” during the late 20th century, offering a rare glimpse into the commercial and social networks that supported the community. These queer-friendly spaces often faced high turnover rates due to unfriendly public perceptions and homophobic prejudice, making the maps important and ephemeral documentation. Over 65 gay-friendly destinations were ultimately covered across numerous editions.

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