Day 7 – Monday July 29
I had planned to head southwest on I-43 this morning to visit the Brodhead Depot Museum located in Brodhead, WI. But Greta (my Garmin) was unable to find the address I gave her. So, I decided to pass up that museum, since it was going to cause me to drive an extra 40 miles out of my way, and I discovered the museum was also not open on Mondays. This allowed me to head west on US-12/I-30 to visit the Wisconsin Veterans Museum located in Madison, WI. This museum has two large galleries that display personal items and rare photos as well as exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia honoring the Wisconsin men and women who have served in the US Military Services dating from the Civil War to the present.
Just on the other side of the Capital Square, I located the Wisconsin Historical Museum, there in Madison. This large multi-story museum contains information related to the history of the state of Wisconsin, and the city of Madison. Displays include rare photographs, artifacts, full-scale dioramas & interactive multimedia programs. The museum’s local Native American history is recorded, in part, by Charles Van Schaick’s photos of the Ho-Chuck people who inhabited this area in the early to mid-1800’s. I also learned that Wisconsin is known as the birthplace of the “Malted Milk Shake” and the museum tells that story with a separate exhibit.
As I headed for my next stop, I passed the Wisconsin State Capital there in Madison, and stopped long enough to take a photo of that beautiful structure. Wikipedia tells me that this Wisconsin Capital Building is the 5th and largest Capital Building to be built and used by the Wisconsin State Government since the first Territorial Legislature convened in Belmont, Wisconsin Territory in 1836.
Some 12 miles northeast of Madison, on US-151, I tried to visit the Angell Park Speedway located in Sun Prairie, WI but it was closed. I was not so much interested in seeing their 1/3rd mile dirt track, that has been holding races since 1903, as I was in visiting the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame pavilion that is located on the racetrack property.
Now I headed north about 40 miles on I-39 to visit the World War II History Museum in Portage, WI. This small store-front museum displays souvenirs, artifacts, and memorability honoring the brave men and women who served in all of the US Military Services during WWII. There is also information related to such heroes as the Sullivan Brothers, Audie Murphy,and many others. The museum also honors American movie stars, war correspondents, and foreign dignitaries who contributed to the war effort.
Next I headed west 15 miles on US-33 to visit the International Clown Hall of Fame Museum located in Baraboo, WI. This was an even smaller museum than the WWII Museum and is located on the ground floor of The Business Center building in downtown Baraboo. The museum preserves and displays clown art, artifacts, and memorabilia to help keep the history of clown performers (past and present) alive for future generations. To date some 67+ famous clowns (past & present), from all over the world, have been inducted into the museum’s growing list of entertainers and laugh makers.
—–This day’s activities will be continued next week—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 61 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 
Looks like you hit all the great museums of Wisconsin, but did you purchase a bag of cheese curds along the way? It is the cheese curd capitol, you know. I can’t believe that clown museum is only three and a half hours away from us. I will definitely have to make a point of checking it out next summer when we take a road trip on the motorcycles:)
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I hope he did get some! Thanks for stopping by!
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