Milton, Wisconsin, is a small town just outside of Janesville that’s absolutely full of interesting history. Founded in 1838 by Joseph Goodrich, Milton sat at an important crossroads on the military road between Chicago and Madison as well as the road from Janesville to Fort Atkinson. Add in its proximity to the Rock River and this small town from the 1800s was far more important than you’d ever imagine a Wisconsin town of 5,000 people could be. The town is notable for myriad reasons, and the Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin is one of them. Let’s take a look at this attraction’s fascinating history:
Built in 1845, this is how the building looked in 1885.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton The Milton House is a grout building consisting of a three-story hexagonal section with a two-story hexagonal wing. The hotel’s main rooms are located within the tower, which has a central spiral stairway with rooms on the sides; the common rooms are on the first floor, while the upper floors and the wing contain guest rooms. It is believed to be the first grout building in the country.
Today, Milton House looks much the same and visiting is definitely a trip back in time.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
And while the homestead itself has great historical significance, what makes this guesthouse so interesting is that it was once an important stop on the Underground Railroad.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
Fugitive slaves would follow the Rock River into Wisconsin before making their way to Racine where they could board a boat headed for Canada.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
There is a hidden Underground Railroad Station below the building, connecting the main house to an outer cabin and this tunnel was crucial for hiding people in Wisconsin when necessary.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
Goodrich was an abolitionist, so Milton House’s role in helping slaves towards freedom was a natural fit.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton He even hosted Sojurner Truth when she visited Milton in the 1860s. The Milton House is part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Visiting Milton House is totally worth a trip.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton They have tons of special events, including arts and craft fairs, historical reenactments, Twilight Tours and more. You’ll see tons of artifacts, from era-appropriate appliances to early bits of Milton history. See how the table would have been set for travelers, who would have paid an extra 25 cents for a hot meal.
This house sits near to Milton House and was built in 1867 by Joseph Goodrich’s son Ezra.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
Milton House is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with tours running all throughout the week.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton Be sure to check the website for specific hours, tour information, and admission fees. And be sure to add this historic Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin to your list of places to visit in the Badger State.
Have you visited the Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin before? What did you learn while there? This historic place really is a must-visit in the Badger State. Milton House is located at 18 S Janesville St, Milton, WI, 53563, and you can learn more on their website.
Facebook/UndergroundRailroadMilton
The Milton House is a grout building consisting of a three-story hexagonal section with a two-story hexagonal wing. The hotel’s main rooms are located within the tower, which has a central spiral stairway with rooms on the sides; the common rooms are on the first floor, while the upper floors and the wing contain guest rooms. It is believed to be the first grout building in the country.
He even hosted Sojurner Truth when she visited Milton in the 1860s. The Milton House is part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
They have tons of special events, including arts and craft fairs, historical reenactments, Twilight Tours and more. You’ll see tons of artifacts, from era-appropriate appliances to early bits of Milton history. See how the table would have been set for travelers, who would have paid an extra 25 cents for a hot meal.
Be sure to check the website for specific hours, tour information, and admission fees. And be sure to add this historic Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin to your list of places to visit in the Badger State.
For more must-visit historical places in Wisconsin, definitely check out these National Historic Landmarks!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Milton House Museum, 18 S Janesville St, Milton, WI 53563, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin June 28, 2021 Sarah What are some must-visit historic places in Wisconsin? With 170 years under its belt, there’s plenty of Wisconsin history to discover and learn about. While we all took field trips to sites like the State Capitol in Madison, there’s still so much more to see and uncover about our wonderful home. We put together a short road trip that visits some of the state’s most historic treasures; places like Spring Green’s Taliesin, home to Wisconsin’s native son Frank Lloyd Wright that’s a beautiful homage to the celebrated architect and all the things he believed in. The stunning compound looks out onto amazing scenery and the outside feels like it comes into the dwelling. It’s magnificent. What fun tours can I take in Wisconsin? There are so many cool places to visit in Wisconsin, and a variety of unique ways to experience them, too! We’ve compiled a list of fun factory tours in Wisconsin sure to satisfy your curiosity; you’ll visit iconic Badger State spots such as Trek Bicycles, Palermo’s Pizza, Twig’s Beverage Company, Kohler, Miller Brewing Company, and Wisconsin Wagon Company! Besides the Milton House, what are some other historic museums in Wisconsin? Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien is a must-visit living history museum in Wisconsin. Open from May through October, this is a former fort, and also a medical museum. Fort Crawford was open from 1816-1856 and the hospital from 1829 through 1935. There’s a recreated 1850’s doctor’s office, a 1900’s dentist office, as well as a wide array of implements and displays on frontier medical treatment. Dr. William Beaumont, an army doctor stationed here, studied digestion and made huge scientific advancements on a patient whose stomach wound would not heal. Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin’s second-oldest community and there so much to see and do here. The museum is located at 717 S Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821. Looking to find out more about Wisconsin history? For an out-of-the-box experience, be sure to check out the amazing Indian ruins at Aztalan.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin
June 28, 2021
Sarah
What are some must-visit historic places in Wisconsin? With 170 years under its belt, there’s plenty of Wisconsin history to discover and learn about. While we all took field trips to sites like the State Capitol in Madison, there’s still so much more to see and uncover about our wonderful home. We put together a short road trip that visits some of the state’s most historic treasures; places like Spring Green’s Taliesin, home to Wisconsin’s native son Frank Lloyd Wright that’s a beautiful homage to the celebrated architect and all the things he believed in. The stunning compound looks out onto amazing scenery and the outside feels like it comes into the dwelling. It’s magnificent. What fun tours can I take in Wisconsin? There are so many cool places to visit in Wisconsin, and a variety of unique ways to experience them, too! We’ve compiled a list of fun factory tours in Wisconsin sure to satisfy your curiosity; you’ll visit iconic Badger State spots such as Trek Bicycles, Palermo’s Pizza, Twig’s Beverage Company, Kohler, Miller Brewing Company, and Wisconsin Wagon Company! Besides the Milton House, what are some other historic museums in Wisconsin? Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien is a must-visit living history museum in Wisconsin. Open from May through October, this is a former fort, and also a medical museum. Fort Crawford was open from 1816-1856 and the hospital from 1829 through 1935. There’s a recreated 1850’s doctor’s office, a 1900’s dentist office, as well as a wide array of implements and displays on frontier medical treatment. Dr. William Beaumont, an army doctor stationed here, studied digestion and made huge scientific advancements on a patient whose stomach wound would not heal. Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin’s second-oldest community and there so much to see and do here. The museum is located at 717 S Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821. Looking to find out more about Wisconsin history? For an out-of-the-box experience, be sure to check out the amazing Indian ruins at Aztalan.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
With 170 years under its belt, there’s plenty of Wisconsin history to discover and learn about. While we all took field trips to sites like the State Capitol in Madison, there’s still so much more to see and uncover about our wonderful home. We put together a short road trip that visits some of the state’s most historic treasures; places like Spring Green’s Taliesin, home to Wisconsin’s native son Frank Lloyd Wright that’s a beautiful homage to the celebrated architect and all the things he believed in. The stunning compound looks out onto amazing scenery and the outside feels like it comes into the dwelling. It’s magnificent.
What fun tours can I take in Wisconsin?
There are so many cool places to visit in Wisconsin, and a variety of unique ways to experience them, too! We’ve compiled a list of fun factory tours in Wisconsin sure to satisfy your curiosity; you’ll visit iconic Badger State spots such as Trek Bicycles, Palermo’s Pizza, Twig’s Beverage Company, Kohler, Miller Brewing Company, and Wisconsin Wagon Company!
Besides the Milton House, what are some other historic museums in Wisconsin?
Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien is a must-visit living history museum in Wisconsin. Open from May through October, this is a former fort, and also a medical museum. Fort Crawford was open from 1816-1856 and the hospital from 1829 through 1935. There’s a recreated 1850’s doctor’s office, a 1900’s dentist office, as well as a wide array of implements and displays on frontier medical treatment. Dr. William Beaumont, an army doctor stationed here, studied digestion and made huge scientific advancements on a patient whose stomach wound would not heal. Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin’s second-oldest community and there so much to see and do here. The museum is located at 717 S Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI, 53821. Looking to find out more about Wisconsin history? For an out-of-the-box experience, be sure to check out the amazing Indian ruins at Aztalan.
