National Register of Historic Places listings in Juneau County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the special places in your community that tell a story about the past? In Juneau County, Wisconsin, there are nine amazing spots listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list is like a hall of fame for buildings, areas, and objects that are important to history. These places are protected because they help us understand how people lived long ago and what was important to them. Let's explore some of these cool historic sites!
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Historic Homes and Buildings
Juneau County is home to several old houses and important buildings that have been preserved. They show us different styles of architecture and how people lived in the past.
Benjamin Boorman House
The Benjamin Boorman House is a beautiful old home in Mauston. It was started in 1875. Benjamin Boorman was an important person in Mauston's early days. He owned a grist mill (where grain was ground into flour) and a lumber mill (where wood was cut). Today, this historic house is home to the Juneau County Historical Society, which helps keep local history alive.
Juneau County Courthouse
The Juneau County Courthouse is located in Mauston. It was built in 1938. This building has a modern style for its time. It was built with help from the WPA, a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. Courthouses are important places where laws are made and justice is served.
William and Mary Shelton Farmstead
The William and Mary Shelton Farmstead is an old farm located in Seven Mile Creek. The farmhouse was started in 1863. By the 1920s, this farm was very advanced for its time. The owners used advice from universities and farming magazines to make it a state-of-the-art farm. It shows how farming changed and improved over the years.
Weston-Babcock House
The Weston-Babcock House is a grand home in Necedah. It was built in 1860 by Thomas Weston. He was an early settler and started a big lumber company. His company once cut ten million board feet of lumber each year! Later, Charles Babcock, who founded the Necedah Bank, lived here. This house tells the story of important business leaders in the area.
Ancient Wonders: Mound Groups and Glyphs
Juneau County also has amazing ancient sites left by Native American people who lived here thousands of years ago.
Cranberry Creek Archeological District
The Cranberry Creek Archeological District is a very special place. It has many ancient mounds built by people from the Woodland period. These people lived here between 100 and 800 CE. There are hundreds of low, round mounds, often in lines. You can also find "effigy mounds" here. An effigy mound is a mound of earth shaped like an animal. At Cranberry Creek, there's one shaped like a bird and another like a bear or panther. These mounds were likely used for ceremonies or burials.
Gee's Slough Mound Group
The Gee's Slough Mound Group is another fascinating site with mounds from the Woodland period. Here, you can see linear mounds (long and straight), round mounds, and a running panther effigy mound. These earthworks show the artistic and spiritual beliefs of the Native Americans who built them.
Lemonweir Glyphs
The Lemonweir Glyphs, also known as Twin Bluffs petroglyphs, are ancient carvings on a sandstone wall. A "petroglyph" is an image carved into rock. These carvings show thunderbirds. Thunderbirds are powerful, mythical birds in many Native American cultures. They are often seen as symbols of strength and protection. These carvings give us a glimpse into the ancient beliefs and art of the people who lived here long ago.
Historic Engineering: Sprague Bridge
Not all historic places are buildings or ancient sites. Some are examples of important engineering.
Sprague Bridge
The Sprague Bridge is a historic bridge built in 1913. It crosses the Yellow River southeast of Finley. This bridge is a type called a Pratt half-hip pony truss bridge. It's an important example of how bridges were built in the early 20th century. Bridges like this helped people and goods travel across rivers, connecting communities.
Images for kids
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The Henry and Barbara Bierbaurer House in New Lisbon.
