Visit Us
Visit Us
From expert genealogy advice to immersive museum experiences, we help you connect the dots—and the generations.
Your history is waiting. Let’s explore it together.
Wisconsin Historical Society Headquarters
The oldest historical society in the United States to receive continuous public funding, the Wisconsin Historical Society stewards and curates one of the most significant collections in North America. Our mission to collect, preserve and share starts here.
Downtown Madison
Located in downtown Madison just down the street from the State Capitol, our headquarters house the extensive Society Library and Archives—which are free and open to the public. Explore stories spanning generations, important genealogy details, your next history project and more.
Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office
State Historic Preservation Office
The Society is Wisconsin's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). We partner with communities, organizations, and individuals to identify, interpret, and preserve historic places for present and future generations. Learn more about our services.
Available for Appointments | Mon - Fri | 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Appointments are recommended. Use the form below and include a complete list of requested materials. Access depends on staff availability.
Request Appointment
Wisconsin Historical Society Library
The Library
Explore one of North America’s premier research collections. Our library opens doors into Wisconsin’s past and offers insights into the future—from U.S. and Canadian history to multicultural stories, genealogy, labor movements, and more. Gain free access to resources spanning 150 years.
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Wisconsin Historical Society Archives
The Archives
The Wisconsin Historical Society Archives collects, preserves, and shares unpublished records, including hand-written manuscripts, photographs, sound recordings, maps, and state & local government records.
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Research Opportunities Across the State
Access to historical public records, manuscripts, and research assistance. Our resources are available in 14 locations statewide. Explore in a community near you!
Explore CentersAttractions & Historic Sites
From historic sites to hands-on exhibits, our museums and locations across the state bring Wisconsin’s past into the present. Visit the History Maker Space in Madison—our central hub for exhibitions—or explore one of our many unique sites to discover the people, places, and moments that shaped our state.
Across Wisconsin
Welcome to Wisconsin history firsthand. From historic landmark estates to the colorful history of the circus to stagecoach inns, magnificent lakeside manors, tin-type photo studios and museums rich with stories, our historic sites—which span Wisconsin—capture important moments in state history for you to explore.
Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin
Set against the backdrop of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and 600 acres of picturesque woodlands, prairie, and wetlands, Old World Wisconsin is a one-of-a kind-place where the modern world fades away to reveal over a century of history. The site includes 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores, and workshops. Along your journey from the 1840s to the 1910s, costumed ambassadors will invite you to get hands on with history. You’ll meet furry friends on the farms, enjoy an old-fashioned soda water in the general store, see sparks fly in the blacksmith shop, see how beer is made, and so much more!
W372 S9727 WI-67
Eagle, WI 53119
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Circus World
Circus World
An incredible 64 acres showcasing the incredible history of the American Circus is yours to explore. From the world’s largest collection of restored historic circus wagons to seven National Historic Landmark structures that more than a century ago were the wintertime home to the Ringling Bros. Circus and are now filled with thousands of circus treasures, you’ll delight in this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind wonder.
550 Water Street
Baraboo, WI 53913
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Wisconsin History Center
Wisconsin History Center
The Wisconsin Historical Society is bringing a new, 21st-century history center and cultural attraction to the people of Wisconsin and beyond.
Designed to be a welcoming beacon of inspiration and exploration, the new center set on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square in Madison will reflect a modern approach to sharing history and connecting communities.
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Wade House
Wade House
Visiting Wade House historic site takes you on a journey through Wisconsin’s past with tours of the Wade House Stagecoach Inn, stops at the blacksmith shop & sawmill, and the exhibits of the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum & Visitor Center. This historic site is named for the inn built by the first European settlers of the town, Sylvanus and Betsey Wade. This stately stagecoach inn offers a fascinating glimpse into the long-ago era of horse-drawn travel, but it’s far from the only reason to hop in the car and venture to this historic site in the scenic northern Kettle Moraine. The beautifully preserved inn is just one of many interactive attractions exploring pioneer life in the 1800s that you will find on the site’s 280 acres.
W7965 WI-23
Greenbush, WI 53026
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Black Point Estate & Gardens
Black Point Estate & Gardens
Immerse yourself in Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp’s grand lakeside retreat. A Gilded Age jewel, this opulent mansion and meticulously maintained gardens reveal the lavish lifestyle led by the late 19th century Victorian landed elite.
812 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
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First Capitol
First Capitol
Near the picturesque hamlet of Belmont is First Capitol, the place where the first territorial legislature established Wisconsin’s government. Visit the site where these lawmakers built the framework that would evolve into the state of Wisconsin.
18904 County Highway G
Belmont, WI 53510
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H.H. Bennett Studio
H.H. Bennett Studio
The H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum explores Wisconsin Dells history through the man who helped transform it into a national tourist attraction. Visit the museum and take a tour that includes landscape photography, 1800s film equipment, and hands-on activities for guests of all ages.
215 Broadway
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
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History Maker Space
History Maker Space
Learn, grow, and deepen your bond with history at this active, community-focused spaced that hosts exhibitions, events, and programs.
1 S Pinckney St
Madison, WI 53703
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Madeline Island Museum
Madeline Island Museum
Madeline Island Museum seeks to capture the rich, deep portrait of life on the Apostle Islands— from the Ojibwe and other tribes who called Madeline Island home hundreds of years before European contact, to its status as a hub for trading, commercial fishing, and travel.
226 Colonel Woods Ave
La Pointe, WI 54850
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Pendarvis
Pendarvis
Tucked in a scenic valley at the heart of historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis serves as a collection of 1800s limestone and log buildings that tell the incredible story of the very first Wisconsin “badgers.”
114 Shake Rag Street
Mineral Point, WI 53565
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Reed School
Reed School
Built in 1915, this historic Wisconsin one-room schoolhouse stands as living testament to how young learners acquired new skills without basic technologies or amenities. Explore the past of education through recordings, news volumes, and artifacts from the free school movement.
4326 US-10
Neillsville, WI 54456
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Stonefield
Stonefield
Early agrarian life in Wisconsin starts at Stonefield. Once the agricultural estate of Nelson Dewey, the first Wisconsin governor, this historic site teems with cropland, shops, and factories knit together by grassy roads and centuries of farming culture.
12195 County Hwy VV
Cassville, WI 53806
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Villa Louis
Villa Louis
When you walk through the wood-grained double doors of the Villa Louis residence, you step into the fascinating life of one of Wisconsin’s most historic families—the Dousmans. This beautiful Italianate-style mansion tells their story—and many others—in striking detail.
521 Villa Louis Road
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
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Wisconsin History Center
A landmark cultural destination designed to share the rich, vast, and varied stories of the people who have shaped the state. Featuring world-class exhibits, community gathering spaces, immersive moments, and interactive experiences, this landmark venue will showcase Wisconsin's impact on America and inspire exploration across all 72 counties.
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Autumn Celebration Weekend
Wade House ● Greenbush, WI
📅Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | 9:30 AM–4 PM ➡️ Explore Wisconsin’s colorful fall traditions at Wade House.
Behind the Scenes Tour
Villa Louis ● Prairie du Chien, WI
📅Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM ➡️ Take a peek behind the velvet ropes of this stately 1871 Italianate-style mansion, a National Historic Landmark.
Sordid and Scandalous: A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva
Black Point Estate ● Lake Geneva, WI
📅Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | 11 AM–12:30 PM ➡️ Explore the mysteries of Lake Geneva in this engaging guided tour through the city's beautiful and historic downtown and Maple Park neighborhoods.
Madison’s Hidden History: From Myth to Mystery
Wisconsin Historical Museum
📅Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | 1 PM–2:45 PM ➡️ From myths and magic to a murder most tragic, tour the path less traveled and uncover unusual secrets from Madison’s storied past.
Wizard of Oz presented by Stage 3 Children’s Theater
AL Ringling Theatre ● Baraboo, WI
📅Sat, Oct 10, 2026 | 7 PM–9 PM ➡️ Join us for Wizard of Oz presented by Stage 3 Children’s Theater Oct 9-11, 2026!
An Indigenous History of the American Revolution
DeForest Area Public Library ● DeForest, WI
📅Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | 6 PM–7 PM ➡️ Want to get involved in celebrating America 250? Join one of our partners for this special event.
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Members enjoy free admission to 12 historic sites, a Wisconsin Magazine of History subscription, discounts, and access to 1,200+ partner organizations.
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