AttractionsArchitectural Tours: A driving tour. Brochures available for a small fee at the Visitors? Center or the Chamber/Main Street Office. Tour highlights 28 buildings and sites of historic and architectural interest. A walking tour also is available. Gundry House: 234 Madison St. The site houses Mineral Point history. It is in Italianate style, built of crafted sandstone. Tours will be available beginning in 2001. Merry Christmas Mine: Part of the Merry Christmas Mine Prairie, a 43-acre area that includes educational walking trails highlighting early crevice mines and "badger holes." Open year-round, free and it begins at the edge of the Pendarvis parking lot. Mineral Point artisans: Many shops, galleries and studios throughout the business community. You can see the artists at work. These include pottery, jewelry, photography, sculpture, fiber, painting, graphics, pastels and watercolor. Antique shops: The town hosts shops that sell antiques, including Jail Alley House (111 Jail Alley), The Livery Antiques (303 Commerce St.), Ridnour's Antiques and Accessories (14 Fountain St.) and Mineral Point Toy Museum (215 Commerce St.) Mineral Point Theatre: 139 High Street. Built in 1914, it housed a number of big-name performers. Today, it provides daily movie presentations, live performances by the Shake Rag Players and other meetings. Call 608/987-2642 for information. Odd Fellows & Rebekah Museum: Front Street. Federal style building that is now is a museum. Call 608/987-3093. Pendarvis: One of seven historic sites operated by the State Historical Society. Costumed interpreters offer guided tours through the complex. It recalls the days of the lead-mining era, what brought the Cornish to the area and their lifestyle. It is open May 1-Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Restaurants: A variety of establishments, offering traditional foods. Shopping: Whether antiques, artwork or whatever you need, Mineral Point has it throughout its city. History* Pendarvis, a group of restored homes built by Cornish miners nearly 150 years ago, recalls the days when southwestern Wisconsin was a lead mining region. The first permanent homes in the community were erected by settlers from Cornwall, England. The men, among the best miners in the world, brought with them the techniques they had learned in the declining mines of Cornwall, as well as an expert knowledge of stonecutting and masonry, which they used to build limestone houses like those they left in England. Most of these stone and log houses - more than 30 - were built in a ravine along a street that became known as Shake-Rag-Under-The-Hill. According to legend, the women would shake rags from their doorways to signal the men in the nearby mines that it was time to eat. As nearly a century passed, many houses fell into ruin and were torn down. In 1935, restoration was begun on a one-story cottage named Pendarvis. Several other houses have been restored and furnished with antiques and lead mining artifacts: Trelawny, Polperro, Tamblyn's row, which includes an old-time kiddlywink, or pub, are now part of a tour offered by the State Historical Society. Area FishingDarlington, WI* Pecatonica
River fishing for walleye, bass, trout, catfish and pan fish. Canoeing on the Pecatonica River
provides a peaceful outing. * Yellowstone Lake State Park,
located 12 miles from Darlington, offers more than 150 camping units picnic
sites, swimming beach, hiking, fishing, hunting and an array of water sports. In the winter, snowmobile trails and
ice fishing offer entertainment. The lake, which is two-miles long and a
quarter-mile wide, is surrounded by 1,900 acres of state-owned land. |
Special EventsDec. 3-6: Santaland Diaries, 8 p.m., Shake Rage Alley. Dec. 5: Gallery Night/Candlelight Shopping, downtow. The streets of Mineral Point sparkle with hundreds of lighted luminaria. Shops and galleries in this art-centric community host receptions and new shows, and shops are filled with gift giving ideas for everyone on your list. For more information, call 608-987-3201. Dec. 5: Gallery Night and Candlelight Shopping, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Downtown Mineral Point. Parks* Soldiers
Memorial Park has Olympic-sized municipal pool, sheltered picnic area, rest
rooms, playground, tennis court and ball field. * Water Tower Park, on U.S. 151, has
sheltered picnic area, rest rooms and playgrounds. Area CampingDodgeville, WI* Hideaway Acres
Campgrounds, two miles east on U.S. 18-151, two miles north on County Z. * Tom's Campground, Wisconsin 191,
family owned campground includes a rustic stone cottage available for lodging,
camper/RV sites, tent sites and modern camping conveniences in a rustic setting
near a trout stream, the Military Ridge Trail and Folklore Village.
608/935-5446. * Spring Valley Trails Campground,
near the House on the Rock, has campsites for motor homes, trailers and tents,
water and electrical hookups, dump station and convenience store. 608/935-5725. Highland, WI* Blackhawk
Lake Recreation Area in Iowa County offers showers, electricity, concession
stand with boat rentals, hiking trails, sandy beach, large lake with fishing,
123 campsites, large public hunting area adjacent to park and 12 group sites.
The Black Hawk Nature Center offers insect, bird, wild plant displays and rock
and mineral displays. Weekend programs and nature hikes. |
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Top Navigation
Attractions
Pendarvis Historic Site
Shake Rag Alley
Dining
Red Rooster Café
Other
Mineral Point Chamber
Shopping
Bargain Nook
Howdle Studios
Johnston Gallery
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Mineral Point Hotels
