At the Badger Mine & Museum, discovery begins with a descent: A guided tour leads 51 steps down into a hand-dug mine dating from 1827. Opening hours are seasonal; check them before your visit. In the museum, you can see early mining tools and ore samples. It also explains how lead was extracted using pickaxes, wedges, and black powder. Recreated shops and exhibits of a historic mining town round out this look at mining history.
Driftless Landscapes and Outdoor Experiences
Yellowstone Lake State Park is located in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. Yellowstone Wildlife Area also offers access to a distinctive landscape: The 4,000-acre area lies in Wisconsin’s Southwest Savanna Ecoregion and features the rolling terrain typical of the Driftless Area. Opportunities for hunting, trapping, and fishing are complemented by 30 miles of horseback riding trails.
Dougherty Creek is a 16-mile trout stream that flows through Green and Lafayette Counties. Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area offers different attractions: It has eight miles of hiking trails and a universal-access kayak launch with an accessible access path, transfer benches, handrails, and guide rails for launching the boat. The area also has a seasonal, 150-foot-long sandy beach for swimming.
Places with History and Character
In Darlington, Main Street forms the heart of the city. Six picturesque blocks are home to shops, churches, museums, government buildings, and other amenities. The area brings together different facets of city life in a compact space. Darlington Farmers Market also offers a broad selection, including local specialties, organic foods, vegetables, crafts, soaps, baked goods, and fruit. The selection may vary by season.
The Driver Opera House was built by Josephus Driver in 1883. Tours take place every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; check the schedule before your arrival. Saxton House was Robert M. La Follette’s childhood home from 1862 to 1870. A tour of the house can be arranged by email. The Lafayette County Courthouse offers another connection to the past: it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and its registration number is 78000114. First Capitol includes restored buildings dating from 1836, including the Council House and the First Capitol Court House.
Trails, Railroad History, and Discoveries Along the Way
The trails also tell stories of how the landscape has been used. Pecatonica State Trail follows a former Milwaukee Road railroad line, once used to transport lead through this valley. Cheese Country Trail is a 47-mile improved rail-trail from Mineral Point to Monroe. It passes through scenic farmland and wooded ridges in Iowa, Lafayette, and Green Counties. In winter, a snowmobile club grooms the trail for multiple uses.
For a different railroad experience, visit Toy Train Barn Museum, about three miles east of Argyle on Highway 81. It features interactive model train layouts and a real 12-inch-gauge railroad that visitors can ride across wooden trestle bridges. Different discoveries come together here: the history of mining and early rail transport, the hills of the Driftless Area, and miniature worlds of technology.
Discover more destinations: Belmont, Brown, Vilas County, Dodge County, Rock, Washburn County, Barron County, Waushara County.
For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.
