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Jefferson County Attractions
Picturesque
and historic Jefferson County cities, towns and villages offer
a wide range of things to see and do such as a reconstructed fort,
American Indian culture, 1830's pioneer settlements, music and
cultural festivals, fine dining, dinner theater and antique malls
and much more!
For outdoor enthusiasts
Jefferson County features one of the state's premier biking trails,
the Glacial Drumlin Trail, as well as camping, hiking, fishing,
golfing, boating and canoeing at its 29 state and local parks.
Winter sports of cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling,
as well as skating and sledding are easily accessible and public
wildlife areas and hunting grounds are also plentiful in Jefferson
County.
Jefferson County
Airport even offers hot air balloon rides, hanggliding and ultralight
aircraft rides and instruction.
Whether you hike,
bike walk, fly, motor or snowmobile your way, Jefferson County
is easy to find. Located to the north and south of Interstate
94, 50 miles east of Madison and west of Milwaukee, and just
80 miles northwest of Chicago, Jefferson County is one of southern
Wisconsin's most accessible travel and fun destinations.
Museums and Historical
Sites Back to top
Aztalan Historical
Society Museum
Cty. Hwy.
B & Q, Lake Mills
(920) 648-4632 or (920) 648-4496
Visit this pioneer village museum which includes a church, 1840's
cabin and school, and many items representative of the pioneer
settlement of the area. Artifacts of prehistoric Indian culture,
maps, documents, vintage clothing and more, are also on display.
Open mid-May through September.
Octagon House
and First Kindergarten
919 Charles
St., Watertown
920-261-2796
The Octagon house, five floors of solid brick construction with
57 rooms, completed in 1854, was designed and built by John Richards,
a pioneer Watertown settler. One of the largest single family
residences of the pre-Civil War period in Wisconsin, construction
features include a central spiral staircase from the first floor
to the tower room and many "modern conveniences" including
central heating, running water and ventilating systems. It is
furnished with many original Richards' family pieces. Other historic
buildings on the museum grounds include the Plank Road Barn, which
houses a collection of pioneer tools and farm implements, and
the first kindergarten in the United States which was begun in
Watertown in 1856. Open daily 10:00 - 4:00 Memorial Day to Labor
Day and 11:00 - 3:00 in May before Memorial Day and in September
after Labor Day.
Hoard Museum
and National Dairy Shrine
407 Merchants
Ave., Fort Atkinson
920-563-7769
Hoard's Museum features Blackhawk Indian artifacts and displays
depicting the areas pioneer history and the Black Hawk War of
1832. A self -guided tour of the adjacent National Dairy Shrine
Visitors' Center captures the sights and sounds of dairy farming
of the past, present and future. Open September through May 9:30
- 3:30 Tuesday through Saturday, June, July, August 9:30 - 4:30
Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sundays.
McKenzie-Fish-Carlin
House
226 W.
Main Street, Palmyra
414-495-2682
The home of the Plamyra Historical Society features local WWII
artifacts among its many exhibits of local and area interest.
Old
Rome Graded School House
N30866
West Street, Rome
414-593-2360
Carefully preserved, the Old Rome Graded School House is home
to the Rome-Sullivan Historical Society and museum of local history.
Heritage
Hall
504 S. 4th Street, Watertown
920-261-0943
Sample the sound of the civil War era preserved and performed
by the 80-plus member 1st Brigade Band on recordings available
from the Heritage Military Music Foundation headquartered in Heritage
Hall. Playing from reconstructed, century-old sheet music on restored
instruments, attired in period gowns and uniforms, the 80-plus
members of the 1st Brigade Band breathe life into history. Uniforms,
instruments, music, and the story of the 1st Brigade Band are
stored and on display here.
Fort Koshkonong
1832 Replica
Riverside Drive, Fort Atkinson
888-733-3678
Visit the reconstructed Fort built by General Henry Atkinson during
the 1832 Blackhawk War. Originally named Fort
Koshkonong, this authentic replica is located on Riverside Drive
in the city later named after its founder, Fort Atkinson.
Parks & Nature
Centers Back to top
Aztalan State
Park
Hwy. Q., Lake Mills
(920) 648-8774
Stroll back thousands of years through the remnants and replica
of a pre-historic stockade village of the Middle Mississippian
Indian culture at Aztalan, one of the state's most important archeological
sites. This 172-acre park also offers picnic areas, hiking trails
and good fishing spots. The archeological site and warm weather
park activities are open May through October 7:00 a.m. to 9:00
p.m. Hiking trails are open to cross country skiers in winter.
Kettle Morraine
State Forest
Cty. Hwy.
Z, ZZ, Palmyra
888-947-2757
Stretching from Waukesha County in the east through Jefferson
County to Walworth County south and west, the 46,000 acre Kettle
Morraine State Forest's campgrounds, varied landscape, abundant
wildlife, lakes, and beaches, all connected by scenic hiking,
biking and cross country ski trails, offer varied recreational
opportunities for the whole family. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy
warm water and ice fishing in the park's four lakes, Whitewater,
Cravath, Tripp and Rice.
Indian Mounds
Park
Whitewater
920-262-8080
Take a historic walking tour and explore the Indian Mounds dating
between 200 and 1200 AD in this 1.5-acre city park.
Rock River
Park
Fort Atkinson
920-563-7781
Meander the Rock River banks then picnic, swim, lay back and watch
the children enjoy the play area, have a game of tennis or just
enjoy the view. This 113-acre park stretches along the Rock River
from the east to west Fort Atkinson city limits.
Glacial Drumlin
Bicycle Trail
1213 South
Main Street, Lake Mills
920-648-8774
Named for the glacier-formed elongate hills viewable from this
47-mile trail, Glacial Drumlin winds its way from Waukesha to
Cottage Grove along the 1880 Chicago and Northwestern railbed.
Hikers, bikers and snowmobilers will enjoy this
route as they travel the countryside and farmlands of southern
Wisconsin through London, Jefferson and Deerfield.
Special Things To
Do Back to top
Buckskinners
Rendezvous
Rock river
Park, Fort Atkinson
920-563-3210
Get a real taste of pioneer life from the 1830's when you visit
with traders, skinners and their families at this annual May-June
event.
1911 C. W.
Parker Carousel
Dickenson
Street, Waterloo
920-478-2465
Purchased in 1925 by the Waterloo Fire Department and installed
in Firemen's Park, this meticulously restored antique 1911 carousel,
complete with band organ, has been delighting generations of children
- and their parents - ever since. Rides are available
every Sunday afternoon 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. from Memorial Day
to Labor Day.
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