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Visit Wisconsin Museums and Historic Sites | Wisconsin Historical Society

Visit Wisconsin Museums and Historic Sites

Explore History in a New Way!

Join Us This Season

This season, we are excited to welcome visitors to Black Point Estate & Gardens, Circus World, Old World Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Historical Museum for general admission and special experiences. Click the buttons below for more information on how you can explore history in a new way through our 2021 programs and events.

Tickets will be available soon.

We also offer virtual summer camps through the Wisconsin Historical Museum.

The Wisconsin Historical Society is committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our guests, members, and staff. Read the information below to learn about our 2021 health and safety protocols.

First Capitol, H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum, Madeline Island Museum, Pendarvis, Reed School, Stonefield, Villa Louis, and Wade House Historic Site remain closed for public programming throughout the 2021 season due to temporary staff reassignments to help the frontline efforts of COVID-19 for the state of Wisconsin. While some of our team members are busy helping communities and families affected by COVID-19 around the state, we will continue to care for and invest in the physical infrastructure and collections at our historic sites. We look forward to welcoming you back to all of our historic sites and museums in 2022!

Don’t forget—members receive free general admission and a 10% discount on special experiences. Plan your next visit today!

Become a member

For Your Health and Safety

reserve a spot. Tickets.
Advance registration is required for some events
Face Masks required. Mask.
Face masks are required & available onsite as needed
We're cleaning. Cleaning spray.
Daily cleaning & sanitizing enhanced at all facilities
Maintain Social Distance. Two people 6 ft apart.
Social distancing guidelines will be enforced

2021 Site Protocols

  • To protect your safety and ours, face masks are required inside and outside for all guests and staff at our historic sites and museums.
  • Social distancing guidelines will be enforced at all historic sites and museums.
  • All events and programs will have a limited capacity to ensure social distancing guidelines are properly followed, keeping the safety of employees and guests as the top priority.
  • Disposable masks will be available onsite.
  • All facilities will adhere to significantly increased daily cleaning and sanitation requirements and there will be cleaning stations in each building.
  • Each location will follow strict guest engagement protocols, including parking, food preparation, and the use of shared facilities such as a public restroom.
  • Staff and guests, per CDC guidance, are asked to stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19.

Shop the Sites!

Shop our online store for merchandise related to our historic sites. 100% of the proceeds support the Society.

Online Store
Seipp's Beer Stein vintage metal looking, beige color old school illustration

Seipp's Beer Stein

Cotswold fingering 2ply: Gray

Old World Wisconsin Yarn

Oxen Team from Old World Wisconsin, black oxen with a Old World Wisconsin embroidered in the side.

Old World Wisconsin Oxen

Villa Louis Stained Glass Scarf - Silk

Villa Louis Stained Glass Window Silk Scarf

museum nerd mugs

Museum Nerd Mug

Pendarvis Mug

Pendarvis Mug

Wisconsin Dells 300 Piece Puzzle

Wisconsin Dells Puzzle

H.H. Bennett "Water Ski Pyramid" Trivet

H.H. Bennett "Water Ski Pyramid" Trivet

Learn More About our Historic Sites and Museums

Black Point Estate & Gardens, Circus World, Old World Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Historical Museum are open for general admission and special experiences. First Capitol, H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum, Madeline Island Museum, Pendarvis, Reed School, Stonefield, Villa Louis, and Wade House Historic Site remain closed for public programming for the 2021 season.

Black Point Estate, a view of the tower and the rest of the building, the clouds are beautiful and really frame the building.

Black Point Estate & Gardens

A circus cart on a lawn, bright red, yellow, and orange colors.

Circus World

An old fashioned camera is set up facing a dramatic photo backdrop

H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum

Wood building with antlers attached. A sign reads Museum

Madeline Island Museum

A group of people bail hay out of an old fashioned cart

Old World Wisconsin

Pendarvis house at dusk, orange colored brick and white trim windows and doors. A stone wall lines the house next to the road. The lamp is lit.

Pendarvis

A older white couple holding hands and walking towards the Stonefield buildings

Stonefield

The Villa Louis Manor on a sunny day, victorian architecture on elegant display

Villa Louis

People visiting the Arts and Crafts Fair at Wade House

Wade House

Walking by the Capitol Square

Wisconsin Historical Museum

Inside the Reed School classroom, with vintage desks and a chalkboard

Reed School

The two historical buildings of Wisconsin's First Capital

First Capitol

Travel #BackInTimeOnline

Take a virtual walk through the historic sites! Explore the people, places, items, and moments that make our historic sites and museums special through our YouTube Series “Travel Back In Time."

See All Videos

WHS Historic Sites Quiz

Historic Sites Quiz

Do you think you can identify all of our historic sites and museums from a single photo? Take the quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz