A Heroes Journey - From Wisconsin Idols

Wisconsin Itineraries

Three trips that will help you connect with the heroic figures who came to and from Wisconsin, depending on which part of the state you want to explore. Supplement these drives with sites from the lists below to satisfy your personal interests and obsessions.

Discover intriguing true tales of legends and trailblazers who left their mark on Wisconsin and the world in the WHS Press book, Wisconsin Idols, by Dean Robbins. 

East

In Racine County, you’ll find more than two dozen significant abolitionist sites, including markers commemorating the brave escapes of Joshua Glover and Caroline Quarlls. Head north to Genessee Depot to tour Ten Chimneys, the extravagant home of theatrical superstars Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Then it’s on to Waukesha to view a permanent exhibition dedicated to musical innovator Les Paul at the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, and next to Milwaukee for another Paul exhibition at Discovery World. Don’t leave Milwaukee without visiting the historical marker in Cathedral Square Park, where you can contemplate Glover’s dramatic liberation. In Grafton, check out the monument to the influential musicians who recorded for Paramount Records; and farther north in Two Rivers, sample ice cream sundaes in the place where three locals created everyone’s favorite dessert in 1881. Salute football great Bart Starr in Green Bay, immersing yourself in trophies and gear at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. End your eastern journey by circling south to Appleton, where you can marvel over a straitjacket worn by the incomparable magician Harry Houdini at the History Museum at the Castle. Search out the Houdini historical markers in downtown Appleton and two wonderful Houdini sculptures: a bust in Houdini Plaza and Metamorphosis on the Fox River.

Central

Start at Janesville’s Lincoln-Tallman House for an authentic Abraham Lincoln encounter. In Madison, walk in Rodney Dangerfield’s footsteps on the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Bascom Hill, where the irreverent comedian filmed Back to School. Pay your respects to Saturday Night Live’s Chris Farley at Resurrection Cemetery and to rhythm and blues singer Otis Redding on the Monona Terrace rooftop, where a monument overlooks the site of Redding’s 1967 plane crash. You can also stand on the Edgewater Hotel pier to view the lake where singer Joni Mitchell shot photos for her album Hejira—or, in winter, venture onto the lake yourself to reenact Joni’s mystical experience on the ice. Jog east to the Fort Atkinson area to see the rough-hewn cabin where Lorine Niedecker toiled over her highly personal modernist poetry; then jog west to Spring Green to tour a one-of-a-kind architectural landmark: Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin. Head north to Baraboo to explore the Ringling Brothers’ boisterous Circus World and the Aldo Leopold Foundation, home to the conservationist’s celebrated shack. Drive slightly east for writer Zona Gale’s elegant house in Portage, then slightly west for H. H. Bennett’s historic photography studio in Wisconsin Dells.

West

In Prairie du Chien, wander through the lovely Mississippi River Sculpture Park, which features a statue of renowned healer Marianne Labuche. Follow the Mississippi River up to La Crosse, which boasts a dynamic sculptural tribute to the Olympic champion George Poage. Straight north is Eau Claire, the stomping grounds of melancholy musician Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. You can stay at his hip hotel, the Oxbow; drive by a Bon Iver-themed mural at the State Theatre; and even see the dormitory Vernon immortalized in his song “Towers” at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. At Carson Field is a poignant statue of teenage Hank Aaron, who started his brilliant baseball career with the Eau Claire Bears. To explore the beautiful north country, take the scenic drive to Ashland and visit Sigurd Olson’s beloved Chequamegon Bay. Along the way, Bob Dylan fanatics can stop in Webster to see Herzl Camp, where the future Nobel laureate spent idyllic childhood summers swimming and strumming his guitar.

Top Tourist Attractions

H. H. Bennett Studio

The historic site celebrates the pioneering photographer and displays his images and equipment.

215 Broadway Avenue, Wisconsin Dells, 53965, 608-253-3523

hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org

Zona Gale

Museum at the Portage

The civic museum is located in Gale’s stylish former home and preserves her study.

804 MacFarlane Road, Portage, 53901, 608-742-6682
portagemuseum.org

Harry Houdini

History Museum at the Castle

A permanent exhibition features the magician’s equipment and tells his exciting life story.

330 East College Avenue, Appleton, 54911, 920-735-9370

myhistorymuseum.org

Ice Cream Sundaes

Washington House & Visitor Center

Hear about the three locals who helped invent the ice cream sundae, then sample the wares at Berner’s Ice Cream Parlor.

1622 Jefferson Street, Two Rivers, 54241, 920-793-2490

tworivers-history.org/historic-washington-house

Aldo Leopold

Aldo Leopold Foundation

Learn about the conservationist’s life and explore his lovingly preserved farm, including the iconic shack.

E13701 Levee Road, Baraboo, 53913, 608-355-0279

aldoleopold.org

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln-Tallman House

See the mansion where the future president once stayed—for a day longer than he expected.

440 North Jackson Street, Janesville, 53548, 608-756-4509

rchs.us/sites/lincoln-tallman-house

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne

Ten Chimneys

Tour the theatrical stars’ extravagant summer home, packed with a lifetime’s worth of treasures.

S43 W31575 Depot Road, Genesee Depot, 53127, 262-968-4161

tenchimneys.org

Agnes Moorehead

Agnes Moorehead Micro-Museum

A restaurant exhibit features mementos from the actress’s life.

Beastro & Barley, 125 East Main Street, Reedsburg, 53959, 608-524-6724

beastroandbarley.com

Les Paul

Wizard of Waukesha exhibition

Learn how the innovative guitarist changed the world with his music and inventions.

Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 West Main Street, Waukesha, 53186, 262-521-2859

waukeshacountymuseum.org/education/les-paul-wizard-of-waukesha

Les Paul

Les Paul’s House of Sound exhibition

Immerse yourself in the guitarist’s life and create your own new sounds.

Discovery World, 500 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, 53202, 414-765-9966

discoveryworld.org/experiences/les-pauls-house-of-sound

Ringling Brothers

Circus World

The sixty-four-acre attraction showcases historic buildings and circus wagons while offering a lively modern-day circus.

550 Water Street, Baraboo, 53913, 608-356-8341

circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org

Ringling Brothers

Al Ringling Mansion

Tour the palatial home of the eldest Ringling brother, who surrounded himself with elaborate murals and hand-decorated ceilings.

623 Broadway Street, Baraboo, 53913, 608-448-7455

alringlingmansion.com

Viola Smith

Malone Area Heritage Museum

The museum houses photos and memorabilia of The Fastest Girl Drummer in the World.

N8791 County Road West, Malone, 53049, 920-579-2738

facebook.com/malonearea

Bart Starr

Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

The quarterback plays a Starr-ing role in this tribute to all things green and gold.

Lambeau Field Atrium, 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, 54304, 920-569-7512

packershofandtours.com/explore/hall-of-fame

Frank Lloyd Wright and Pedro Guerrero

Taliesin

Explore the architectural masterpiece designed by Wright and expertly photographed by Guerrero.

5481 County Road C, Spring Green, 53588, 608-588-7900

taliesinpreservation.org

Must-See Monuments

Hank Aaron statue, as a baseball rookie

Carson Park, 199 Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire, 54701

Hank Aaron statue, as a Major League Baseball star

American Family Field, 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, 53214

Bon Iver mural

State Theatre, 316 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, 54701

Joshua Glover mural

Interstate 43 overpass on Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, 53205

Mildred Fish Harnack memorial

2101 Allen Boulevard, Madison, 53705

Hans Christian Heg statue

Capitol Square at King Street, Madison, 53703

Harry Houdini statue, in a straitjacket

Houdini Plaza, West College Avenue between South Appleton and South Oneida streets, Appleton, 54911

Harry Houdini statue, Metamorphosis

600 South Vulcan Street, Appleton, 54915

Marianne Labuche statue

Mississippi River Sculpture Park, 419 5th Street, Prairie du Chien, 53821

Fred MacMurray mural

Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre, 117 West Maple Avenue, Beaver Dam, 53916

Helen Farnsworth Mears, Genius of Wisconsin statue

Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 East Main Street, Madison, 53703

Fred Merkle memorial

919 Charles Street, Watertown, 53094

Paramount Records musicians walk of fame

Paramount Plaza, 1304 12th Avenue, Grafton, 53024

George Poage statue

Poage Park, 500 Hood Street, La Crosse, 54601

Otis Redding memorial

Monona Terrace rooftop, 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, 53703

Bart Starr statue

Resch Center, 820 Armed Forces Drive, Green Bay, 54304

Pilgrimage to a Plaque

Joshua Glover

Rice and Sinclair sawmill site where Glover worked after escaping from slavery

Horlick Park along the Root River, 3630 Rapids Court, Racine, 53404

Margaret H’Doubler

Near 1055 Bascom Mall, Madison, 53706

Eric and Beth Heiden

Vilas Park, Madison, 53715

Harry Houdini

Zion Temple, 320 Durkee Street; the southwest corner of College Avenue and Morrison Street; and 600 South Vulcan Street near the Metamorphosis sculpture, Appleton, 54915

Ada James

Near 460 West 6th Street, Richland Center, 53581

Har Gobind Khorana

University of Wisconsin-Madison Biochemistry Building, 420 Henry Mall, Madison, 53706

Aldo Leopold

2222 Van Hise Avenue, Madison, 53726

Georgia O’Keeffe

300 East Main Street, Sun Prairie, 53590

Sigurd Olson

30600 U.S. Highway 2, Ashland, 54806

Elvis Presley fight scene

3618 East Washington Avenue, Madison, 53704

Caroline Quarlls, Underground Railroad site at the Samuel Brown Farm

Intersection of Fond du Lac Avenue and North 17th Street, Milwaukee, 53205

Ringling Brothers first performance site

18 Broadhead Street, Mazomanie, 53560

Theodore Roosevelt assassination-attempt site

Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, 333 West Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, 53203

Spencer Tracy school

Trowbridge Street Elementary School, 1943 East Trowbridge Street, Milwaukee, 53207

Bunny Berigan

Spring Street (State Highway 33), south of Cordelia Street, on the right when traveling south, at a highway pull-off by Adams Spring Park, Fox Lake, 53933.

Invention of the Ice Cream Sundae

Intersection of Washington Street (State Highway 42) and 17th Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Street, at Central Park, Two Rivers, 54241.

Unmarked Shrines

Bon Iver/ Justin Vernon

Kaarlgard Towers

Vernon’s college dormitory, referenced in the Bon Iver song “Towers”

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 642 University Drive, Eau Claire, 54701

Rodney Dangerfield

Back to School film locations

Memorial Union Terrace, Library Mall, Observatory Hill, Science Hall, Helen C. White Hall, Slichter Hall, and the Red Gym, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53703

Bob Dylan

Camp Herzl

The Nobel laureate’s childhood summer camp

7260 Mickey Smith Parkway, Webster, 54893

Chris Farley

Former site of Ark Improvisational Theatre, where the comedian got his start

220 North Basset Street, Madison, 53703

Harrison Ford

Belfry Music Theatre, where the future Han Solo and Indiana Jones honed his acting skills

3601 Wisconsin Highway 67, Delavan, 53115

Joni Mitchell

Site of ice-skating photos from the album Hejira

Lake Mendota at the Edgewater Hotel, 1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, 53703

Nirvana and Butch Vig

Former site of Vig’s Smart Studios, where the band began recording its breakthrough album, Nevermind

1254 East Washington Avenue, Madison, 53703

Joyce Carol Oates

Barnard Hall, the writer’s residence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

970 University Avenue, Madison, 53706

Orson Welles

Former site of Camp Indianola, where the budding artist wowed fellow campers with a solo performance of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; look for three stone pillars, the camp’s last remnants

Governor Nelson State Park, 5140 County Highway M, Waunakee, 53597

Historic Houses

Still standing, sometimes with historic markers; fun for a drive-by but not open to the public

Kathryn Clarenbach

2229 Eton Ridge, Madison, 53726

Uta Hagen

1620 Adams Street, Madison, 53711

Adda Howie

3026 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, 53208

Liberace birthplace

1649 South 60th Street, West Allis, 53214

Helen Farnsworth Mears

222 East Parkway Avenue, Oshkosh, 54901

Lorine Niedecker

W7307 Blackhawk Island Road, Sumner, 53538

Spencer Tracy

3003 West St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee, 53208

Orson Welles birthplace

6114 7th Avenue, Kenosha, 53143

Final Resting Places

Bunny Berigan

Annunciation Cemetery, Breezy Point Road, Fox Lake, 53916

Dickey Chapelle

Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee, 53215

Jeffrey Erlanger

Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 Speedway Road, Madison, 53705

Chris Farley

Resurrection Cemetery, 2705 Regent Street, Madison, 53705

Zona Gale

Silver Lake Cemetery, 304 Cemetery Road, Portage, 53901

Hans Christian Heg

Norway Cemetery, 6235 Heg Park Road, Norway, 53185

Adda Howie

Graceland Cemetery, 6401 North 43rd Street, Milwaukee, 53209

Ada James

Richland Center Cemetery, 1300 North Park Street, Richland Center, 53581

Belle Case La Follette

Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 Speedway Road, Madison, 53705

Allen Ludden

Graceland Cemetery, 841 Fair Street, Mineral Point, 53565

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne

Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 West Forest Home Avenue, Milwaukee, 53215

Electa Quinney

Stockbridge Indian Cemetery, Moore Road, Hilbert, 54129

Meinhardt Raabe

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, W4095 County Road B, Johnson Creek, 53038

Frank Lloyd Wright and Pedro Guerrero

Unity Chapel Cemetery, 6596 County Highway TZ, Spring Green, 53588 

Wright’s remains were moved to Arizona, but his rugged headstone is intact.

Find the book, Wisconsin Idols, at your favorite book retailer or in our online store.