[5] Similarly, the Potawatomi gave up their land claims in Wisconsin in 1833, and the Menominee ceded territory in this area in the 1836 Treaty of the Cedars.

Lumber quickly became the most important industry and drew other businesses and settlers to the town, which at the time was known as Little Bull Falls.

After the closing of Fort Winnebago in 1845, a number of Métis families moved to Little Bull Falls, and in 1857 the town was renamed in honor of an Ojibwe chief from the Wisconsin River Band.

[8] In the neighboring Menominee language the town is called Mōsāpnīw, "he dwells alone there", which is likely a close approximation of the eponymous chief's name.

The "Communists" dragged Mayor Ralph E. Kronenwetter and Police Chief Carl Gewiss out of their beds.

Roadblocks were set up around Mosinee, the library was "purged", prices of goods were inflated for the duration of the coup, and local restaurants served Russian black bread and potato soup for lunch.

[12] As he arrived at a rally to restore democracy to the community the night of May 1, Mayor Kronenwetter suffered a heart attack and never regained consciousness.

"[13] Local minister Will La Brew Bennett, 72, who, during the Communist invasion, demonstrated to the media how he would hide his Bible in the church organ if the Communists really invaded and was herded with other residents into a barbed-wire ringed "concentration camp" near "Red Square", was found dead in his bed hours after the mayor's death on May 7, 1950.

On October 24, 2018, the airport was the site of a Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" rally.

Attendees lined up to gain entry to the rally up to 29 hours before the event was scheduled to begin.

Dedicated on February 11, 1899, the building was used as a library, as well as a post office, village hall, and school, and it was the scene of many community events, including dances and balls.

The library was the only place in the community with theater facilities, so amateur plays were often presented there, and school commencements were held in the Grand Hall.

Several renovations have also taken place, with the most recent occurring in 1995 as part of a county-wide building and improvement program for libraries.