Stroll the preservation-rich community of Mineral Point and indulge in historic tours, a Cornish pasty-making workshop and Pub Night at Cornish Fest

Mineral Point, Wis. - Pendarvis, a Wisconsin Historical Society site, announces a June 1 opening day and a full roster of exciting spring and summer events. The cluster of tiny stone and log homes, built by Cornish immigrants in the 1840s, is the location for a variety of experiences, from tours of historic Mineral Point to a cooking workshop in which visitors will learn to make a traditional Cornish pasty.

The season, which runs from June 1 - Oct. 15, will feature four daily, 60-minute tours from Thursday-Sunday. Docents lead guests through six original homes, telling the early Cornish settler’s story and the preservation efforts of local residents Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, who in 1935 opened Pendarvis House restaurant to help finance the restoration. The restaurant gained national fame during its 35-year run, even welcoming renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis. 

While visiting the site, guests can also hike the trails of Merry Christmas Mine Hill Trails and Prairie, the center of much of Mineral Point’s early mining activity.

House tours are offered throughout the season from Thursday-Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.  The cost is $12 for adults and teens, $11 for seniors, $8 for children ages 5-8 and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission and a 10 percent discount on ticketed events. For further information, visit www.pendarvis.wisconsinhistory.org

Upcoming Events:

• Historic Preservation Celebration - May 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mineral Point commemorates National Preservation Month with a series of talks and tours. Former State Archaeologist Bob Birmingham will discuss Fort Blue Mounds and the settler fortifications of the Black Hawk War from 11 a.m. to noon. Tours of the historic homes will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is free to the public.

• Cornish Pasty Workshop & Meal - May 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Relive the heyday of the Pendarvis House restaurant with a Cornish pasty-making workshop, followed by a tour of Pendarvis and a pasty dinner. Held in cooperation with Walker House Inn and Restaurant, the cost is $90 per person, and reservations are required.

• Mineral Point Museum Night - June 15, 5 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy a free after-hours tour of Mineral Point’s historic attractions: Pendarvis Historic Site, Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, Orchard Lawn, the Mineral Point Opera House, Mineral Point Railroad Depot, Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of Mineral Point Art at the Public Library, Brewery Pottery and Odd Fellows & Rebekahs Museum. Guides will be available to share stories and answer questions.

• Pub Night, Cornish Fest - Sept. 22, 6 to 10 p.m. 

Kickoff Mineral Point’s Cornish Fest weekend at Pub Night. For one evening, the historic pub opens for drinks, live music and pub games around a roaring fire. The cost is $10, including one drink. Citywide festival highlights include Cornish teas, singalongs, folk art exhibits and more.

• Mineral Point Walking Tour - September 22 and October 13, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Discover the history of one of Wisconsin’s oldest cities while strolling through its scenic downtown. The one-and-a-half-mile tour takes visitors on an exploration of Mineral Point’s historic buildings and landmarks. The cost is $20 per person.

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About Pendarvis

Pendarvis is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Tucked away in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the restoration and preservation efforts of Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum, who saved a significant part of Wisconsin’s past. Their legacy includes the six historic stone and stone-and-log cottages that comprise Pendarvis today, built by Cornish immigrants in the 1840s during the Wisconsin Territory’s lead-mining boom. Nearby Merry Christmas Mine Hill still bears the signs of early mining activity, and a 43-acre restored prairie reveals the unspoiled wilderness found by the first arriving settlers.

About 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 www.wisconsinhistory.org.

The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program.