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Racine
County Attractions
Racine County
features a picturesque lakefront and harbor and offers many recreational
and historical attractions for both visitors and residents alike!
Many of "the
best things in life are free" and Racine County offers something
for everyone, and much for free! Take time to visit the Charles
Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, housed in a historic Italianate farmhouse,
surrounded by 13 acres of magnificent gardens and filled with
a permanent collection of more than 2,500 works of art. History
buffs will truly enjoy the many historical societies and original
schools that recreate turn of the century Racine County and its
rich ethnic history. Racine County is also a great place to appreciate
the beauty of the Lake Michigan shoreline and also its many parks
and the River Bend Nature Center; and nature enthusiasts can
enjoy the flora and fauna and all of their favorite outdoor recreational
activities.
Discover the
many wonderful Racine County attractions just waiting for you…and
with so many things to do and places to go you can stay for a
day, a week or maybe even a lifetime.
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Museums
& Historical Sites
Whitman School
401 Beloit
Street, Burlington
414-767-2884 or 414-763-6471 or 414-534-3619
Built in 1840, this one-room schoolhouse was the first school
in the area. The Whitman School is now operated by the Burlington
Historical Society and contains many school-related artifacts.
The historical society hosts classes for children from second
through fifth grades where they can dress in period costumes
and relive an historical school day. Open each Sunday, Memorial
Day through Labor Day from 1pm to 4pm. Group tours are available
by appointment.
Racine Art Museum (RAM)
441 Main Street
Racine, WI
262-638-8300
Located in the heart of revitalized downtown Racine, the
Racine Art Museum (RAM) houses one of North America’s most
significant collections of contemporary crafts. The museum
features changing exhibitions of objects in ceramics,
fibers, glass, metals and wood, as well as painting,
sculpture and works on paper by internationally and
nationally recognized artists. The Racine Art Museum is open
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday Noon – 5:00 pm
and closed Mondays, Federal holidays and Easter. An
admission fee of $5 for adults, with reduced fees for
students and seniors. Children under age 12 are free.
Members are always admitted without charge.
RAM’s Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine
262-636-9177
www.ramart.org
Located
just a few miles from RAM’s downtown location at 5th and
Main Streets, RAM’s Wustum Museum has a rich history and
regional reputation for offering enriching art education
opportunities to students and adults. RAM’s Wustum Museum
offers a studio art program where students can experiment in
drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics and so much more in a
professional environment. Exhibitions featuring works from
the Racine Art Museum’s permanent collection can also be
seen at this facility. These exhibitions serve as
inspiration for RAM’s Wustum art program led by quality art
instructors. RAM’s Wustum Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday
10:00 am – 5:00 pm and closed Sundays, Mondays, Federal
holidays and Easter. Admission to RAM’s Wustum Museum is
free.
Racine County Heritage Museum
701 South Main Street, Racine
414-636-3926
Housed in a registered historic landmark building, the Racine
County Heritage Museum is devoted to preserving artifacts and
archived materials to teach the community the history of the
Racine area. The many exhibits, events and educational programs
show the people, culture and events of 1830 to present day Racine.
Visitors will be able to enjoy all three floors of the museum,
the gift shop, and the archives. Open Tuesday through Friday,
9am to 5pm, Saturdays & Sundays 1pm - 5pm. Free admission; donations
appreciated.
1888 Bohemian Schoolhouse
Five Mile Road and Highway 31, Caledonia
414-636-3926
Built in 1888, the schoolhouse was built by a colony of Bohemian
settlers who wanted a place to teach their children about the
Bohemian language and culture. Deeded to the Racine Historical
Society in 1975, the school was restored and is now used to recreate
turn of the century classroom experiences. Historical Society
volunteers dress in period costume and conduct reading, arithmetic,
and writing lessons to local school children. Call for schedules.
Burlington Historical Museum
232 N. Perkins Boulevard, Burlington
414-767-2883 or 414-763-6471 or 414-534-3619
Visitors are invited to see the many pieces of memorabilia and
artifacts from the city's past through the present. Along with
the many exhibits, visitors can purchase books about the history
of Burlington at the museum's gift store. Open every Sunday and
most holidays from 1pm - 4pm, year round. Group tours are welcome
by appointment.
Log Cabin Museum
Echo Lake Veterans Park (Hwy. 36), Burlington
414-767-2884 or 414-763-6471 or 414-534-3619
Step back into pioneer history as you tour this log cabin - completely
furnished with period pieces from the Burlington Historical Society's
collection. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Sundays and
most holidays from 1pm - 4pm. Additional tours and group tours
are available by appointment.
Old Engine House No. 3 Museum
700 Sixth Street, Racine
414-637-7395 or 414-633-4305
Once a working firehouse, today the Engine House No. 3 features
an exhibit of antique fire fighting equipment. Open Sundays from
1pm - 4pm or by appointment. Free admission.
Spinning Top &
Yo-Yo Museum
533 Milwaukee Avenue (Hwy. 36), Burlington
262-763-3946
Bring out the kid in you...or just bring the kids to see more
than 2,000 tops, yo-yos and gyroscopes, as well as 35 different
tops, spin at this special museum. A 2 hour tour and program features
a live show, videos, demonstrations and games to play. Advance
reservations are required for the show; groups of all sizes are
welcome. Reservations/tickets are required. Free parking. Call for hours. Admission.
Logic
Puzzle Museum
533 Milwaukee Ave.(Hwy.365), Burlington
262-763-3946
More than 50 different hands-on brain, logic, & mechanical
puzzles to try to solve make one to keep, and see exhibit.
It's a 90 minute visit. Call for hours and reservations.
Free parking.
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Parks & Nature Centers
Wilmot
Mountain
P.O.
Box 177, Hwy. W, Wilmont
414-862-2301
Winter enthusiasts will love spending time at Wilmot Mountain.
Located in the southern region of Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine,
Wilmot Mountain offers miles of scenic trails and slopes that
excite expert and novice skiers alike. Wilmot Mountain Ski Area
is a one-mile wide hill with 25 downhill ski runs and a snowboard
half-pipe. In the summer Wilmot Mountain features a premier Bike
Park with slalom, BMX, BMX freestyle, cross-country, downhill,
skateboarding/in-line skating courses. Call for hours of operation
and trail information.
Milaeger's
4938 Douglas Avenue, Racine & 8717 Highway 11, Sturtevant
414-639-2040 or 414-522-7118 or 1-800-669-1229
Year round you can surround yourself in the beauty of nature
at Milaeger's. With more than 70 greenhouses, Milaeger's grows
a remarkable variety of flowering plants, specializing in perennials.
Milaeger's offers free seminars and how-to clinics on gardening
and tours of their facilities. Open every day except Christmas:
weekdays 9am - 8pm, Saturday 8:30am - 5pm, and Sunday 9:30am
- 5pm.
River Bend Nature Center
3600 N. Green Bay Road, Racine
414-639-0930
Nature enthusiasts find the 80 acres of natural habitats, woodlands,
ponds, grassy fields and the Root River of the River Bend Nature
Center a favorite place for all of their outdoor activities.
The nature center, which overlooks the river and woods, offers
educational programs and seasonal events about the area wildlife
and plant life. Open daily, April through October, Monday to
Friday 9am - 4:30pm; Saturday and Sunday 12:30pm - 4:30pm. Group
tours are welcome. Call for reservations. Free admission.
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Special Things
to Do
Racine Lakefront
Trolleys
Downtown
Shuttle
414-636-8025 or 1-800-317-4333
Enjoy Old World nostalgia as you take a ride through Racine's
historic downtown area on a turn of the century trolley car.
The trolleys operate daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day
from 10am - 5pm. Special "pub and grub" trips travel
to local restaurants and taverns on Friday and Saturday nights.
Charter service is also available.
Racine Zoological Gardens
2131 N. Main Street, Racine
414-636-9189
Everybody will love a trip to the Racine Zoo. This 32-acre site
sits along the Lake Michigan shoreline and includes over 200
animals in park like settings. Enjoy the recently remodeled primate
and large cat buildings and meet the zoo's newest friend, Bender,
a 5200 pound white rhinoceros. Families can also enjoy the Sertoma
Children's Zoo and playground, the picnic areas, food stands
and gift shop. Each summer the zoo features a variety of outdoor
concert series. Call for seasonal hours and information.
Rausch's Bear Den
6831 Big Bend Road (Hwy. 164), Waterford
414-895-6430
Delight yourself and the whole family with a visit to this family-owned
petting zoo. Springtime brings the cuddly newborn animals and
in the fall you can run through the pumpkin patch. Open May through
September, Saturday, Sunday and holidays, from 11am - 5pm. Tours
welcome. Admission.
Elmwood Plaza Farmer's Market
Durand Avenue just east of Lathrop, Racine
414-886-3284
Enjoy the farm fresh produce at the Elmwood Plaza Farmer's Market.
Local vendors will excite your taste buds with the different
seasonal produce including asparagus, rhubarb, beans, tomatoes,
corn, melons and more. Held May through October, every Tuesday
and Friday from 8am to 12noon.
Racine Downtown Farmer's Market
Corner of State and Erie Streets in the Case Corp parking
lot, Racine
414-643-6002
Farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses and more are offered at the
Racine Downtown Farmers Market. A tempting variety of jams, jellies,
preserves and syrups made fresh every week also are available.
Shoppers with a green thumb will enjoy the wide variety of plants,
annuals and perennials the markets have to offer. Held May through
October, every Saturday from 8am to 12noon.
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Points of
Interest
Hoppe Homestead
Family Dairy Farm
33701
Hill Valley Drive, Northwest of Waterford
414-534-6480
Step back in time as you visit a 100-year-old working dairy farm.
Throughout your day you can try hands-on milking, enjoy horse
drawn hayrides, winter sleigh rides, and pony rides, and feed
the animals. From April through December visitors can feast on
a home cooked Sunday breakfast. Tours are available daily May
through October. Call for tour information.
Modine-Benstead Observatory
County Trunk A and 63rd Drive, Union Grove
414-878-2774
Look up and see at all the stars in the galaxy during the open
houses held at the Modine-Benstead Observatory. Held one Friday
per month, April through October, beginning at dusk until 11pm.
Free admission.
Oak Clearing Farm
704 Oak Clearing Drive, Union Grove
414-818-1688
Learn all about turn of the century Racine County when visiting
the Oak Clearing Farm. A variety of exhibits fill the buildings
on the farm grounds. The Old Fore Exhibit, housed in the lower
level of a barn, recreates a blacksmith/forge/machinery shop.
Upstairs is the fanning mill museum and a gallery display of
historical photos. Also be sure to visit the bottle museum, with
displays of Racine Brewery bottles. Open weekends May through
September. Call for hours.
The Rosary Walkway
4014 N. Green Bay Road, Racine
414-639-5050
Take time to appreciate a place of peace and beauty...the Walkway
is for those who wish to pray or meditate. Located next to the
Convent of St. Rita. Open everyday.
Windpoint Lighthouse
Lighthouse Drive, between Three and Four Mile Roads, Racine
Built in 1880, the Windpoint Lighthouse has become an outstanding
landmark in Racine, thanks to the many artists and photographers
who have captured its beauty. The lighthouse served as a beacon
guiding Lake Michigan boaters and sailors into the Racine Harbor
safely. Though the interior is not open to the public, visitors
can stroll the grounds and enjoy the view.
Wingspread
33 Four Mile Road, Racine
Completed in 1939, Wingspread was the last and largest of Frank
Lloyd Wright's prairie style houses. Originally built as a private
residence for H.F. Johnson, today it serves as an international
conference center and is open to the public for tours. Open year
round, Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. Call ahead for tour availability;
group tours can be arranged.
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