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Historic Sites in Wisconsin
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Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien
Villa Louis, an 1870s Victorian mansion, overlooks some of
Wisconsin's most historic ground, including the site of the only
battle of the War of 1812 fought in Wisconsin. Built by the
family of Hercules Dousman, who amassed a fortune in fur trade
and other frontier investments, the house is stocked with
numerous furnishings and artwork original to the Dousman
household, making it one of the most authentically furnished
Victorian houses in the nation. For information call:
(608)326-2721
Heritage Hill, Green Bay
A state park operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, Heritage hill is a 40-acre complex of twenty-five
furnished, historic buildings grouped into pioneer, small town,
military and agriculture theme areas. Authentically costumed
guides interpret the two hundred years of history found here.
The complex presents the 1672 Wisconsin fur trade area, the 1836
military heritage of nearby Fort Howard, the homes of shops of
1871 and the 1905 cheese factory and Belgian Farm. For
information call: (800)721-5150
Madeline Island Historical Museum, La Pointe
Madeline Island, the largest of the pristine Apostle Islands,
lies just off the tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula.
Historically the spiritual homeland of the Ojibwa people, the
island became an important hub of the fur trade in the 17th
century and later was the site of commercial fishing and logging
activity. By the early 20th century, the island had become a
vacation getaway. Today, the museum exhibits a rich array of
artifacts that relate to all these chapters in the island's long
and colorful history. For information call: (715)747-2415
Old World Wisconsin, Eagle
More than fifty historic buildings once located all over
Wisconsin now dot the hills and valleys of this outdoor museum
of immigrant farm and family life. An 1870s crossroads village
re-creates small town life in Wisconsin while farmsteads
representing German, Polish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian
immigrant settlers reflect the heritage of those who built them.
Guides outfitted in the fashion of the day greet visitors as
they travel from farmstead to farmstead aboard a tram, or hike
nature trails winding through lush woods. For information call:
(414)594-6300
Circus World Museum, Baraboo
Baraboo is the birthplace of the world-famous Ringling Bros.
Circus. Today, the museum encompasses fifty acres of circus
history. Thrill to the performances of world-class aerialists,
animal acts and clowns presented under the Big Top! The museum
also hosts the largest collection (150) of antique circus parade
wagons in the world. For information call: (608)356-0800
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