MADISON, Wis. – Looking for great travel value? Why not discover a state’s true character by embarking on a historic journey? The Wisconsin Historical Society is excited to announce the opening dates for the state’s 11 historic sites. Road trippers who become members will enjoy free admission to these sites, along with a fun member Pastport, a stamp-ready booklet filled with historical facts and travel tips. From the banks of the mighty Mississippi to the northernmost tip of the state, Wisconsin’s historical sites are scattered in fascinating locations, each one offering a unique story.
“Traveling to Wisconsin’s historical sites is a wonderful way to learn about history while discovering the beauty of a country road vacation,” said Angela Titus, Wisconsin Historical Society’s assistant deputy director and chief program officer. “Whether you’re exploring the 20th century brewing experience at Wittnebel’s Tavern at Old World Wisconsin, visiting Madeline Island—recently recognized by Travel + Leisure for its Indigenous history programs—or discovering Circus World, the birthplace of the Ringling Brothers Circus, you’ll embark on a magical and thought-provoking journey into the past.”
Wisconsin Historical Society members who make a journey out of their membership and collect all 11 stamps receive a free Family+ annual membership, along with special incentives, including a Wisconsin History Road Trip tote bag after visiting six sites and $5 off at any on-site Wisconsin Historical Society gift shop after three site visits.
As the unofficial start of summer approaches, the Wisconsin Historical Society invites both members and non-members, from in-state and out-of-state, to explore affordable, off-the-beaten-path vacation destinations.
Pre-Memorial Day Weekend Openings
Black Point Estate & Gardens, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, will open for the season on May 3. Journey by boat to one of Lake Geneva’s original lakeside “summer cottages”, built by Chicago Beer Baron Conrad Seipp in 1888. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and perched above the lake, guests can explore a gilded-age home filled with the family’s original artifacts. New this year is a special “Nooks & Crannies Tour” featuring an after-hours tour of seldom visited rooms and a three-part “Institute for Victorian Living” series highlighting the language of flowers, turn-of-the-century etiquette and historic wedding traditions. Go to blackpointestate.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and tour information.
Circus World, Baraboo, Wisconsin, will open on April 21 for the season with the daily Big Top circus performances kicking off on May 16. The National Historic Landmark and original winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros. Circus is now a 64-acre facility featuring a museum, historic circus buildings, vintage wagons and live summer performances under the iconic Big Top. New this year is the return of four historic circus wagons, including the beloved Bell Wagon, commissioned by the Ringing Brothers in 1892, along with the debut of an “Iron Jaw” exhibit, featuring items used by performers in their gravity-defying highwire acts. This summer’s Big Top show, “Holidays!”, is a celebratory spectacle paying tribute to classic and zany holidays and includes a rare highwire motorcycle act, the flying trapeze, incredible horsemanship, world-class jugglers and more. Plus, Baraboo’s Big Top Circus Parade will take place on June 14. The annual hometown parade, complete with vintage circus wagons, marching clowns, unicyclists, acrobats, bands, street performers and more, will feature a special performance on the Bell Wagon. Go to circusworldbaraboo.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and performance information.
Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, Wisconsin, will open for the season on May 3. Decades in the making, the 600-acre living history attraction, recently awarded the top spot in “Best of the Burbs” by the readers of Milwaukee Magazine, features 60 original buildings depicting rural life in a frontier community. New in 2025 is the addition of Wittnebel’s Tavern, an authentic 1906 tavern, meticulously renovated to its 1930s post-Prohibition look, and dedicated to sharing stories of brewing culture in the 20th century. The original tavern will complement the neighboring Brewhouse that showcases 19th century brewing techniques. Old World Wisconsin will also debut an outdoor Biergarten as a historic nod to the German immigrants whose traditions and techniques fueled Wisconsin’s rich beer and brewing history. Old World Wisconsin’s highly popular Independence Day Weekend, with its annual pie-eating contest, historic baseball and family parade, will also return July 4 and 5. Old World Wisconsin is located 45 minutes from Milwaukee. Go to oldworldwisconsin.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and special events.
Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, will open for the season on May 21. Enter the gilded-age world of the Dousman family, the original residents of this National Historic Landmark property located along the Upper Mississippi River. Take a guided tour of the ornately decorated mansion, influenced by Victorian and Arts & Crafts era décor, and learn about the style, customs and rituals of this affluent family during this unique time in our country’s history. For those who like to delve a bit deeper, a special-behind-the-scenes tour is offered seven times a year. Go to villalouis.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and special events.
May 24, Memorial Day Weekend Openings
First Capitol, Belmont, Wisconsin – Step into the building where Wisconsin got its start as a state. First Capitol, consisting of two white clapboard buildings, is where legislators met for 46 days in 1836 to lay the foundation for Wisconsin’s government. During this time, Madison was chosen as the state capital. Wisconsin was officially recognized as the 30th state on May 28, 1848. Go to firstcapitol.org for seasonal hours and days of operation.
H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – Discover the power and beauty of H.H. Bennett’s photography at his original 150-year-old studio in downtown Wisconsin Dells. While Bennett ran a successful 19th century tintype photo studio, his passion for landscape photography and innovation is what he is best remembered for. His iconic photos of the Dells’ stunning rock formations, including one of his son leaping through the air between two rock formations, helped put Wisconsin Dells on the national tourism map. Visitors can view Bennett’s historic photography at this immersive museum and studio. Go to hhbennettstudio.org for seasonal hours and days of operation.
Madeline Island Museum, La Pointe, Wisconsin – A visit to the Madeline Island Museum, located on the largest of Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands, is an adventure through time, exploring the stories of the diverse peoples who have called the island home. The immersive journey traverses four historic structures that combine to form the heart of this museum featuring fascinating artifacts and engaging exhibits telling Ojibwe, French, British and American stories. The museum, noted in Travel + Leisure’s recognition of the Apostle Islands as one of the “50 Places to Travel in 2025,” will feature “Passages,” an exhibit highlighting the Ojibwe’s journey to this island where food grows on water. Other programs include a weekly speaker series, an Ojibwe Artist in Residence program and birchbark canoe building. Go to madelineislandmuseum.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and special events.
Reed School, Neillsville, Wisconsin – Ever wondered what it was like to take classes in a one-room schoolhouse? The historic Reed School, built in 1915 in rural Wisconsin, invites visitors to step back in time. Explore this historic school where hundreds of rural students were educated during the early 20th century. View exhibits and displays and watch audio-visual presentations where former students share their stories. Go to reedschoolhistoricsite.org for seasonal hours and days of operation.
Wade House, Greenbush, Wisconsin – Step into the 19th century world of horse-powered travel, where the horse and buggy ruled the road. The 1850s Wade House, located in Wisconsin’s picturesque Kettle Moraine, offers guided tours of the 26-room inn built by Sylvanus and Betsy Wade. The couple, along with their nine children, moved from Massachusetts to establish a life in this new territory. Wade House Stagecoach Inn tours begin with a horse-drawn wagon ride from the Visitor Center to the inn and include an independent visit to the blacksmith shop and water-powered sawmill. The Visitor Center, which houses the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, features the state’s largest collection of carriages, including a recent addition: an original 1875 Abbot Downing No. 43 Stagecoach. A full roster of events, including Wade House Carriage Driving Days, Hearthside Dinners and stagecoach rides, is available on the website. Go to wadehouse.org for seasonal hours, days of operation and special events.
Post-Memorial Day Openings
Pendarvis, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, will open for the season on May 29 – Explore the tiny, rustically built homes, today known as Pendarvis. Once the dwellings of Cornish miners who immigrated to Wisconsin, these beautifully restored buildings, saved by business and life partners Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, tell a story of preservation and perseverance. Visitors can take a guided tour of the homes and visit Pendarvis House Restaurant, the once thriving, nationally recognized restaurant, attracting the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Sinclair Lewis, that helped finance their preservation efforts. In addition to regular guided tours, a special behind-the-scenes tour is being offered in 2025. Go to pendarvishistoricsite.org for seasonal hours and days of operation.
Stonefield, Cassville, Wisconsin, opens for the season on May 31 – A tribute to Wisconsin’s agricultural roots, Stonefield, located on the property of Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey, is a recreated 1900s rural farming community that houses the state’s agricultural museum. Guests can explore the museum, which showcases 19th century farming equipment, visit the historic village and tour Dewey’s home. Located just off the Great River Road, the iconic route that follows the Mississippi River, Stonefield is set in one of the state’s most picturesque environments. Go to stonefieldhistoricsite.org for seasonal hours and days of operation.
For further information on Wisconsin Historical Society sites and membership, go to wisconsinhistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit http://www.wisconsinhistory.org.
