List of National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Did you know that some places are so special and important to history that they get a super cool title? In Wisconsin, there are 45 of these amazing spots called National Historic Landmarks! The U.S. National Park Service gives this title to buildings, places, and sites that have a really big story to tell about American history. These landmarks are recognized because they are super important to our country's past.

Wisconsin's Coolest Historic Landmarks
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Wisconsin's Coolest Historic Landmarks

Wisconsin is home to many fascinating places that have been named National Historic Landmarks. These sites help us learn about different times and events in history, from ancient Native American cultures to famous architects and important political movements. Let's explore some of them!

Amazing Buildings and Homes

Wisconsin has some truly unique buildings, many designed by famous architects.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpieces

The "Great Workroom" at the Johnson Wax Headquarters

The Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine is a super cool building designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built in 1936 and looks like something from the future! Its "Great Workroom" has unique mushroom-shaped columns.
The First Unitarian Society Meetinghouse in Shorewood Hills is another amazing church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It has a very unique, modern look for a church building.
The Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House in Madison was the very first "Usonian" house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. He wanted to create affordable, modern homes for everyone.
The Herbert and Katherine Jacobs Second House, also in Madison, is another home designed by Wright for the same family. It shows how his ideas about homes kept changing.
Wingspread (also known as the Herbert Johnson House) in Wind Point was built for the Johnson family (of Johnson Wax fame). It's a huge, sprawling home with four wings, designed to blend with nature.
Taliesin in Spring Green was Frank Lloyd Wright's own home, studio, and school. It's a huge estate where he lived, worked, and taught his students for many years. It's a true masterpiece of his design.

Other Special Buildings

The Harold C. Bradley House in Madison is a beautiful home designed in the "Prairie School" style by another famous architect, Louis H. Sullivan.
The Farmers' and Merchants' Union Bank in Columbus is one of only eight special "jewel box" banks designed by Louis Sullivan. It's known for its unique and detailed design.
The Milwaukee City Hall in Milwaukee is a grand building with a Germanic style. For a while, it was one of the tallest buildings in the United States!
The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee is one of the oldest theaters in the country that's still open! Imagine all the shows and performances that have happened there.
Turner Hall in Milwaukee is a historic building connected to German-American "Turners," who promoted gymnastics and German culture.

Sites of Early History and Native American Culture

Wisconsin has many places that tell us about the very first people who lived here and early settlements.

The Astor Fur Warehouse in Prairie du Chien is the oldest known building used for trading furs in the upper Mississippi River valley. It reminds us of the early fur trade.
Aztalan State Park near Lake Mills is a prehistoric site where ancient Native American people lived. You can still see mounds and learn about their way of life.
The Brisbois House in Prairie du Chien was built using stones left over from Fort Crawford. It's a very old stone house with a lot of history.
The Dousman Hotel in Prairie du Chien also has ties to the early fur traders in the area. It was an important stop for travelers back then.
The Man Mound in Greenfield is truly unique! It's the only surviving earthen mound in North America shaped like a human. It was built by ancient Native Americans.
The Oconto Site (now part of Copper Culture State Park) in Oconto is an ancient burial ground with artifacts that are 5,000 to 6,000 years old! It shows how long people have lived in Wisconsin.
The Rock Island II Site on Rock Island has been home to many Native American groups over thousands of years, from the Middle Woodland period to the Potawatomi and Ottawa people.
The Silver Mound Archeological District near Hixton is another important site of early Native American settlement. It tells us about their ancient communities.
The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital in Prairie du Chien dates back to the early 1800s. It's now a medical museum, showing how medicine was practiced long ago.

Places Connected to Famous People and Events

Many landmarks are important because of the people who lived there or the big events that happened there.

Fountain Lake Farm in Montello was the home of John Muir from 1849 to 1856. John Muir became a famous naturalist and advocate for protecting nature.
The Golda Meir School in Milwaukee is special because Golda Meir, who later became the Prime Minister of Israel, attended school there from 1906 to 1912.
The Hamlin Garland House in West Salem was where author Hamlin Garland often visited and wrote. He was known for his stories about life in the Midwest.
The Robert M. LaFollette House in Maple Bluff was a home of Robert M. La Follette, a very important politician from Wisconsin who championed progressive ideas.
The Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm in Fairfield is where Aldo Leopold lived and wrote his famous book, Sand County Almanac. He was a pioneer in environmental conservation.
The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon is known as the birthplace of the U.S. Republican Party. A very important political party started right here!
The Milton House in Milton was a station on the Underground Railroad. This secret network helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
Ten Chimneys in Genesee was the home of famous actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. They were a very talented couple in the theater world.
The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison is the beautiful building where Wisconsin's government works. It's a great example of Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts architecture.

Unique Natural and Scientific Sites

Some landmarks are special because of their natural features or what they teach us about science.

The USS Cobia (SS-245) in Manitowoc is a real World War II submarine! It's a great example of the "Gato class" submarines used during the war.
The Dr. Fisk Holbrook Day House in Wauwatosa is connected to Fisk Holbrook Day, a noted geologist who studied the Earth's history.
The Thomas A. Greene Memorial Museum in Milwaukee was once a museum of geology on the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee campus. It held many rock and fossil collections.
The Schoonmaker Reef and Soldiers' Home Reef, both in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, are fossilized reefs. They are among the earliest reefs ever discovered in the world, showing us what ancient oceans were like!
The University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison is a large area dedicated to studying and preserving plants and natural ecosystems. It's a living laboratory!
The University of Wisconsin Science Hall in Madison is linked to Charles R. Van Hise, a famous geology instructor who taught there.
Van Hise Rock in Rock Springs is a rock formation that Charles R. Van Hise used to develop important ideas about how the Earth's crust moves and changes.

Historic Districts and Campuses

Some landmarks are entire areas or campuses that have historical importance.

The Greendale Historic District in Greendale is special because it's one of only three "greenbelt" towns built by the federal government during the Great Depression. These towns were designed with lots of green space.
The Namur Historic District in Namur is a unique area settled by Belgian-American immigrants. You can still hear French spoken with a Walloon accent there!
North Hall, University of Wisconsin in Madison was the very first building on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Imagine starting a whole university with just one building!
The Northwestern Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District in Milwaukee is a large campus, also known as the Milwaukee Soldiers Home. It was established in 1867 to care for soldiers who fought in wars.
The Ringling Brothers Circus Winter Headquarters in Baraboo was where the famous Ringling Brothers Circus spent their winters from 1884 to 1918. It's now the Circus World Museum!
The University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium (often called the Red Gym) in Madison is connected to the Wisconsin Progressive Republican movement, which pushed for social and political reforms.
The University of Wisconsin Dairy Barn in Madison was a site for important research in veterinary nutrition, helping us learn how to keep animals healthy.
Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien is a beautiful mansion built in 1871 by a fur trader. It shows what life was like for wealthy families back then.