When Michael J. Trinklein moved from Iowa to Idaho, his relatives had a hard time grasping that these were actually different states. He soon learned that many Idahoans wanted to split from their poorly-formed state and create “Lincoln,” America’s 51st state. Fascinated, Trinklein began collecting stories and maps of other statehood hopefuls (including several involving Wisconsin)—the result of his quest is his new book, “Lost States.”
Trinklein has written about maps and geography for the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe. He wrote and produced the PBS documentaries The Oregon Trail, The Gold Rush, and Pioneers of Television. A university professor for 20 years, Trinklein’s undergraduate degree is from UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin…. (which nearly became Cedarburg, Charlotina).