Most People Have No Idea This Historic City In Wisconsin Even Exists
By Ben Jones|Published August 01, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
The miners are long gone and Wisconsin’s lead and zinc mines have been closed for decades. But you might not think so if you stepped into a little town called Pendarvis. The historic city in Wisconsin is a collection of buildings built by Cornish immigrants in the early 1800s – they were saved from destruction years later and are now protected forever and are open to visitors who want to explore a bit of the state’s rich mining history. Here’s what’s waiting for you at Pendarvis.
Pendarvis is located on the east side of Mineral Point, along the community’s famous Shake Rag Street. Mineral Point is filled with historic old buildings, but to see the oldest collection in the area, head to Pendarvis.
In the 1830s and 1840s there was a lead mining boom in Wisconsin, and experienced miners from Cornwall, England, flooded into the area. They built simple but beautiful homes from limestone and timber that they obtained nearby.
The mining days eventually ended. When gold was later discovered in California, many miners moved west. There was a resurgence in zinc mining, but that too faded in the early 1900s.
During the Great Depression, Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum came to the area, saw the former miner homes, and knew this was a special place that had to be saved. They acquired and restored a collection of buildings, assigning Cornish-language names to each of the buildings they restored. The first building they restored was a simple stone structure they named Pendarvis.
In 1970, the state of Wisconsin acquired the buildings and opened them as the Pendarvis Historic Site. Today, visitors can tour the grounds and learn about the history of the region's mining industry and the lives of the miners who once occupied these homes.
There are many interesting artifacts on display at Pendarvis, including authentic mining tools and household items. In some buildings you can almost picture miners still living in the home – they are perhaps just gone for the day, working in the mines.
Pendarvis Historic Site is open seasonally. Admission tickets are required. See details and hours on the Pendarvis Historic Site website.
There’s a lot to explore in Mineral Point – once you’ve taken in this historic city in Wisconsin, you might want to take in the town’s vibrant art scene next!
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