Tour to give Packers fans look at team's ties to city of Green Bay

GREEN BAY -- In about a month, Packers fans will be able to take a self-guided tour, called the "Packers Heritage Trail," and get an up close look at the team's ties to the city of Green Bay.

"Titletown" takes pride in its historic ties with the Green Bay Packers. The team's humble beginnings have gotten lost with the passage of time, but no longer.

"One of the things that we discussed was, that if there was one void in it, that was the need for something special for the active Packer fan to do," Cliff Christl said.

Christl created the "Packers Heritage Trail" Foundation. The organization will install 22 bronze plaques throughout the city, each one highlighting a piece of Packers history. That includes places like Curly Lambeau's birthplace on North Irwin Avenue and Old City Stadium.

"The plaques are going to last for generations, hundred years or more, but the story is not, because, 100 years from now, what's going to separate the Packers is those first 50 years, Lambeau to Lombardi, those two iconic coaches," Christl said.

The Packers themselves are helping with the project. It's modeled after Boston's Freedom Trail, showcasing the city's connections to the American Revolution. "I have seen the success of that and how that's benefited downtown Boston and I'm excited for the impact this will have, not only on downtown Green Bay, but also on fans. I think even people in Green Bay will learn a lot about the history of the Packers. I mean, there's fascinating stories about these sites that have been long forgotten and I think it's nice to refresh them," Christl said.

The project is expected to cost more than $200,000. It's being funded through donations.

The trail will start at the Neville Public Museum and continue in a one-mile radius into downtown Green Bay. It will show and tell stories that have long been forgotten.