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. Bored? Never again: these historical hidden gems in Wisconsin tell seemingly endless stories and are just begging to be discovered.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This was a settlement of Cornish miners. You can see how settlers lived and also learn a lot about Wisconsin's mining history.
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.
This is a 240-acre open-air museum. Go back to the era of the stagecoach and see how the Yankees hung out in the Wisconsin wilderness.
13. Ten Chimneys (Waukesha)
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? How many historical hidden gems in Wisconsin were you already aware of? Let us know! Need somewhere to stay while you're exploring? VRBO has endless options for a truly unique, memorable escape.
If you can't get enough, check out even more interesting hidden gems in WI.
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