In 2020, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago launched a social media series called the “Midwest History Blog”. Each episode highlighted different contributions of Swiss men and women to the building and development of the Midwest, its economy, arts, and science.

Swiss immigrants have left a lasting mark on history in the Midwest and they were instrumental in building America’s automotive and dairy industries. For instance, the famous U.S. car manufacturer Chevrolet was founded by three brothers from Switzerland and the art of cheesemaking, for which Switzerland is famous around the world, significantly shaped the creation of the dairy industry in the United States.

With “Swiss Impact in the Midwest: A Historical View”, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago published a book based on the “Midwest History Blog”. It features 25 stories describing how Swiss emigrants contributed to the building of the Midwest. Ranging from the Sulzer brothers opening the first brewery in the Windy City, to the composition of the Batman theme song in Nebraska, to the living history of an automobile titan of industry in Michigan, the cheese-heads in Wisconsin, the evolution of Swiss-German as a growing language in Indiana, and much more.

We invite you to dive into the book and travel with us through our shared history.