THINGS TO DO
Historic Walking Tours of Waupaca
315 S. Main Street, Waupaca. Discover Waupaca’s past by taking a historic tour which may be taken on foot, by bike, or car. Two tours are outlined in a self-guided tour which is available for purchase at the Waupaca Area Chamber and CVB office for $3. Tour One takes you through parts of Waupaca’s historical downtown and residential area. The tour starts at South Main Street at South Park, continues down Main Street to Lake Street past many wonderful homes, a former hospital, and the famous Cristy House. The tour continues through the historic district traveling by many wonderful homes, churches and a former funeral home, ending back in the downtown business district. By foot this tour is about two miles and will take about an hour and a half. Tour Two is the Commercial Industrial Tour. You will see the Waupaca falls, Waupaca Foundry plant one, the Whale Paper Company, Wisconsin Central Railroad, the Soo Line Freight and Passenger Station, Potato Warehouses and many other businesses. By foot this tour is about three miles and will take about two hours. (715) 258-7343 | www.WaupacaAreaChamber.com
Historical Sites in Rural
E1449 Main Street (Rural), Waupaca. Rural is one of only two “Yankee towns” in Wisconsin and is on the National Register of Historic Districts. Its “less than a mile” tour meanders along the Crystal River traversing four stone bridges and showcases 17 historic sites; most of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Touring the historical sites in Rural is a beautiful way to spend the afternoon and observe the scenic beauty of the Crystal River. The Rural Historical Society museum is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. during the months of June through September. Contact the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB for a tour pamphlet and map describing the sites. (715) 258-7343 | www.WaupacaAreaChamber.com
Iola Historical Society
210 Depot Street, Iola. Visiting the Iola Historic Village and Museum is a great way to view historic artifacts and structures from the late 19th century and early 20th century. Featured are a vintage 1894 Iola & Northern Railroad depot and its trackside caboose, a pioneer style log
Shambeau Park Courtesy of Mike Kirk cabin, a replica of an 1897 one-room schoolhouse, the Helvetia Town Hall built in 1919, and Iola’s authentically reproduced 1901 Firehouse with historic (1912-1942) firefighting apparatus. The museum features several unique exhibits, including the Towne Family collection of Native American artifacts, tributes to Iola’s violin maker Bert Stromberg, along with World War II B-17 bomber pilot Lee Nelson, Iola’s “Humble Hero.” The Machine Shed displays local agricultural, construction and manufacturing artifacts. The Society has in place 14 “Historic Iola” markers recognizing selected sites around the village. Open Saturdays in June – August, from Noon to 3 pm, or by appointment. (715) 445-IOLA (4652) or (715) 445-5050 | www.IolaHistoricalSociety.org
Fox Valley Technical College Waupaca Regional Center
1979 Godfrey Drive, Waupaca. Providing associate and technical degree programming, adult basic education and high school completion, personal enrichment coursework in traditional arts and crafts, corporate training, software technology instruction and community meeting space. To enroll, contact us: toll free at 1-888-324-3218, visit our website or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fvtcwaupaca/. Check out our annual Spring Extravaganza, Saturday, April 18, 2020 with over 24 class offerings; take up to 4 classes for one low price. Register online at www.fvtc.edu/springex or call for more information. (715) 942-1700 | www.fvtc.edu/waupaca
Explore Downtown Waupaca See Page 37 | Main Street, Waupaca
Wisconsin Veterans Home at King
N2665 County Road QQ, King. A long term care facility where love of country merges with caring for American heroes. The dedicated staff strives to meet the needs of veterans by providing compassionate care built on the foundation of honor and respect. Tour the grounds which spans across 320 picturesque acres of where you will see the Main Chapel built in 1890 and the Commandant’s Quarters, a beautiful Queen Anne style home both of which are on the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places. Stop by the cafe for a cup of coffee and sit out on the deck and enjoy the beautiful view of Rainbow Lake. The Veterans Home has a museum located in Marden Center - open to the public. (715) 258-5586 | www.WVHKing.com
Yellowstone Trail
Chief Waupaca Sternwheeler Courtesy of Craig Libuse
City of Waupaca. In 1912 the Yellowstone Trail became proposed as America’s first transcontinental highway across the northern portion of the country – stretching from the east coast at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts and ending on the west coast at Puget Sound, Washington. The name derives either from the people using the trail to reach Yellowstone National Park, or because of the stones painted yellow to mark the trail. The Yellowstone trail entered the City of Waupaca by what was the Bunker Hill School located on the south side of Highway 10 on County Road A. You can find signs marking the route traveling westward. The Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB has additional information about the Yellowstone Trail and what sites travelers can see passing through the Waupaca Area. (715) 258-7343 | www.YellowStoneTrail.org www.WaupacaMemories.com
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