The Tomah Recreation Trail runs for about six miles through Tomah and offers opportunities for walking, cycling, rollerblading and running. Parts of the route follow sidewalks. Together with activities at Lake Tomah, it offers a clear choice between getting active on land and enjoying recreation on the water.
School History and Exhibits
The Little Red School House, initially called Watermill School, was built in 1864. The school was originally located five miles northeast of Tomah on County Road G. It was among the first schools in the area to provide free textbooks starting in 1912; an entrance was added in 1914. The school closed in 1965. The city acquired the building and moved it to its current location in Gillett Park, where it was set up as a museum.
Another cultural stop is the Tomah Historical Museum. It displays the Frank King Collection, featuring the nationally syndicated comic strip “Gasoline Alley.” The schoolhouse represents the area's educational history, while the collection offers another way to explore its cultural history. Visitors exploring Tomah for its history will find a range of topics rather than a single historical perspective.
Parks and Summer Music
Rotary Plaza in Winnebago Park includes an accessible area with picnic spots and public restrooms, as well as an All-Inclusive Music Park. Children of all ages can play the instruments there. A large park in Tomah also features the Winnebago Wonderland playground. These park amenities offer different experiences: Rotary Plaza also centers on musical instruments that visitors can play together, while Winnebago Wonderland is identified as a playground.
Music is also part of the seasonal offerings. Downtown Thursday Nights (DTN) has been a six-week, family-friendly summer concert series on the streets of Tomah since 2019, featuring nationally touring bands. Americana Music in the Park is also held in Gillett Park every summer. When planning, it's worth checking the dates for each event in advance, as they can change.
Market and Activities at Lake Tomah
The Tomah Farmers Market takes place in Gillett Park from May through October; seasonal dates may change. Local vendors sell vegetables, fruit, plants, jams, preserved fruits and vegetables, cakes, bread, cut flowers, herbs, spices, crafts and jewelry. Vendors' offerings may also change. The market brings food and handcrafted goods together in one place, making it different in focus from the museums and music events.
Lake Tomah offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, boating and fishing. There are also two boat launches and an accessible pier. Options range from various water activities to fishing; the boat launches and pier offer additional points of reference for a visit to the lake.
Choose your destination based on the themes you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Kendall, Sparta.
For the broader travel overview: Monroe.
