Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society

06/13/2026

Museum Spotlight - Mineral Point Railroad Society

Spend a day at the museum. Walk through history and listen to the vast amount of knowledge the volunteers of the railroad society possess.

One incredible highlight rests on the second floor. A replica of the town, meticulously laid out. Watch and listen as the tour guide points out parts of town you likely visited during your visit, or ones you drove past on your way the museum.

Admission is required to anyone over the age of 6. All money collected is used for operational costs, not to pay staff. That's money well spent.

The museum is open from 10-4, Thursday through Saturday and Noon-4 on Sunday. Many months left before the museum shuts down for the winter.

Make a plan, invite a friend, and venture out to learn about the railroad in the Mineral Point area and beyond.

📍 11 Commerce Street, Mineral Point, WI

06/11/2026

Rina Gadlin and Cora Shepard, two lovely young ladies of yesteryear. From the Pleasant Ridge photo collection of the Grant County Historical Society.

06/11/2026

The Museum will close early today due to the weather. Stay dry if you can

06/06/2026

06/01/2026

Wisconsin celebrated its 178th birthday on Friday! Take a look back at the state’s beginnings in Belmont.

“When we think about Wisconsin government today, the foundation for how it is structured was created here in Belmont in 1836,” said Bethany Brander, site manager of First Capitol.

Learn more about Wisconsin’s complex history in this News 3 Now / Channel 3000 story: https://wihist.org/3REvJKH

“I always think you can’t understand where you are now unless you understand where you’ve been,” said Lee Grady, senior reference archivist with the Wisconsin Historical Society.

First Capitol will also two FREE events this summer in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary.

💙 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻: 𝗔 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆
Saturday, June 13 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

❤️ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Wednesday, July 8 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Learn more: https://wihist.org/4uEHAXE

05/31/2026

Good Morning History Lovers!

We have so much history in our region. From lead mining to fur trading, you can learn so much whether you're a traveler or local. Make time to visit a museum, you'll be glad you did.

▪ Iowa County:
Nick Engelbert's Grandview - Hollandale
~ State Register of Historic Places (free)
Mineral Point Historical Society
~ Orchard Lawn & Gundry House
Mineral Point Railroad Society
~ Oldest surviving railroad depot in Wisconsin

▪ Lafayette County: Lafayette County Wisconsin
The Toy Train Barn Museum - Argyle
~ Interactive model trains
~ Narrow gauge train rides (call ahead)
Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society - Darlington
~ Two museums - Main Building & Caboose (free)

▪ Grant County: Grant County WI Tourism
Fennimore Doll & Toy Museum and Gift Shop
~ Dolls & Toys from numerous decades (free)
Fennimore Railroad Historical Museum
~ Home of the Dinky (free)
~ Narrow gauge train rides ($2/kid)
Boscobel Depot Heritage Museum
~ Museum filled with loaned or donated items
Muscoda Historic Mile
~ New as of 2025 - a walk into the past (free)
Passage Thru Time Museum - Potosi
~ Tiny museum filled with amazing items
Grant County Historical Society, - Lancaster
~ Two floors with numerous displays
Grant County Genealogy Research Society - Lancaster
~ Find your family's history
Dickeyville Grotto
~ More than just religious. Tours available but the grounds are free.

▪ Monroe County:
Tomah Area Historical Society
~ Home to Gasoline Alley & Little Red Schoolhouse in Gillette Park (free)
Wegner Grotto - Monroe County Local History Room - Sparta
~ Unique one-of-a-kind artwork (free)

▪ Richland County: Greater Richland Tourism
AD German Warehouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - Richland Center
~ Tours only on Sundays
Eagle Cave, Wisconsin - Blue River
~ Wisconsin's largest onyx cave

While there are many of these museums that are free, some do charge an admissions. If you attend a free museum, please consider giving a small donation.

You can find a full list of historic places on our website in the comments.

Save and share this with your friends, family or travel partner!

Enjoy the summer. Enjoy a tour. Enjoy the fun.

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce
Potosi-Tennyson Area Chamber of Commerce
Muscoda area Chamber of Commerce

05/28/2026

We’re going to be on TV! Look for us on Channel 15 Friday June 12.