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In 1891, the people of Madison built the Lake Madison Chautauqua on the northwest shore of Lake Madison. The Grand Hotel was located on the Chautauqua grounds. To provide easy access to the Chautauqua grounds and hotel, Madison built a narrow gauge, steam railroad. The Milwaukee railroad later built a spur line from Madison to the Chautauqua grounds. 

Chautauqua’s flourished in small communities across the country.  They were especially popular in the Midwest. The Chautauqua Movement began in 1874 as a summer school for Sunday school teachers.  Over the following decades its mission broadened to include adult education of all kinds. Chautauqua was designed to bring a “college outlook” to working- and middle-class Americans. Chautauqua sought to bring culture, education and entertainment to rural areas. Chautauqua brought national and international speakers to audience that would otherwise not have had the opportunity to hear them speak. The economic depression of the 1930s ended the Chautauqua era. Organizers found it increasingly difficult the find funding for the event.