Wisconsin is not super old, yet it is full of pretty awesome historical sites. As you are exploring Wisconsin this summer, you should be sure to hit up some of these incredible historical spots.
- Aztalan (Jefferson)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Flickr This was once the site of an ancient Mississippian culture and is now preserved in a state park. You can visit the original mounds and see reconstructed stockages.
- Little White School House (Ripon)
Jim Bowen/Flickr This little schoolhouse was the birthplace of the Republican party. They came together to pledge an end to slavery in the United States and formed a new political party to do so.
- Apostle Islands (Bayfield)
Jim Sorbie/Flickr The Apostle Islands have traces of human activity dating back to 100 BC. French traders arrived in the early 1600s. They were named the Apostle Islands after the 12 apostles.
- Circus World (Baraboo)
Lotzman Katzman/Flickr Circus World holds artifacts from Wisconsin’s early history of circus performances. In fact, during the summer, you can still see performances up here. Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers.
- Taliesin (Spring Green)
Kent Wang/Flickr Taliesin was the home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The home emulates the flat plains as well as the limestone from the Driftless area it is located in.
- Mid-Continent Railway Museum (North Freedom)
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook This is a living history museum from the “Golden Age” of railroading. The best part is that you can take a 7 mile round trip on the preserved railroad cars.
- Pabst Mansion (Milwaukee)
Ed Bierman/Flickr This was the home to Captain Pabst, the famed beer baron of Milwaukee. It’s a gorgeous, large home with 66 rooms, 14 fireplaces, 76 stairs from the attic to the basement.
- Holy Hill (Hubertus)
Jim Bauer/Flickr This church gets 500,000 visitors annually, and it’s easy to see why. Built in 1926 as homage to the Virgin Mary, it rests upon a scenic hill with an awesome panoramic view of the town below.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum (Pepin)
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum/Facebook Those stories you grew up with were inspired by Pepin, Wisconsin, where Wilder grew up. Go to this museum and see artifacts from the era that Wilder lived in.
- Pendarvis (Mineral Point)
Pendarvis/Facebook This was a settlement of Cornish miners. You can see how settlers lived and also learn a lot about Wisconsin’s mining history.
- Old World Wisconsin (Eagle)
Old World Wisconsin/Facebook See how the pioneers and immigrants lived in the 1800s. There are 65 historic buildings showing how life was. It is actually the largest outdoor museum of rural life in the United States.
- Wade House (Greenbush)
Wade House/Facebook This is a 240 acre open air museum. Go back to the era of the stagecoach and see how the Yankees hung out in Wisconsin wilderness.
- Ten Chimneys (Waukesha)
Ten Chimneys/Facebook This National historical landmark was the home of 20th century Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. You can explore the property and see how they lived, hear stories about their lives, and, of course, about their super famous friends.
Have you been to any of these locations?
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Flickr
This was once the site of an ancient Mississippian culture and is now preserved in a state park. You can visit the original mounds and see reconstructed stockages.
Jim Bowen/Flickr
This little schoolhouse was the birthplace of the Republican party. They came together to pledge an end to slavery in the United States and formed a new political party to do so.
Jim Sorbie/Flickr
The Apostle Islands have traces of human activity dating back to 100 BC. French traders arrived in the early 1600s. They were named the Apostle Islands after the 12 apostles.
Lotzman Katzman/Flickr
Circus World holds artifacts from Wisconsin’s early history of circus performances. In fact, during the summer, you can still see performances up here. Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers.
Kent Wang/Flickr
Taliesin was the home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The home emulates the flat plains as well as the limestone from the Driftless area it is located in.
Mid-Continent Railway Museum/Facebook
This is a living history museum from the “Golden Age” of railroading. The best part is that you can take a 7 mile round trip on the preserved railroad cars.
Ed Bierman/Flickr
This was the home to Captain Pabst, the famed beer baron of Milwaukee. It’s a gorgeous, large home with 66 rooms, 14 fireplaces, 76 stairs from the attic to the basement.
Jim Bauer/Flickr
This church gets 500,000 visitors annually, and it’s easy to see why. Built in 1926 as homage to the Virgin Mary, it rests upon a scenic hill with an awesome panoramic view of the town below.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum/Facebook
Those stories you grew up with were inspired by Pepin, Wisconsin, where Wilder grew up. Go to this museum and see artifacts from the era that Wilder lived in.
Pendarvis/Facebook
This was a settlement of Cornish miners. You can see how settlers lived and also learn a lot about Wisconsin’s mining history.
Old World Wisconsin/Facebook
See how the pioneers and immigrants lived in the 1800s. There are 65 historic buildings showing how life was. It is actually the largest outdoor museum of rural life in the United States.
Wade House/Facebook
This is a 240 acre open air museum. Go back to the era of the stagecoach and see how the Yankees hung out in Wisconsin wilderness.
Ten Chimneys/Facebook
This National historical landmark was the home of 20th century Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. You can explore the property and see how they lived, hear stories about their lives, and, of course, about their super famous friends.
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