What to do and see in Mineral Point, United States: The Best Places and Tips

December 19, 2017 Elouise Mccaul

Mineral Point is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located within the Town of Mineral Point. Mineral Point is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wisconsin's third oldest city, Mineral Point was settled in 1827, becoming a lead and zinc mining center during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today the city's historical character has made it a regional tourist destination. The population was 2,487 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Mineral Point

1. Pendarvis

114 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1063 +1 608-987-2122
Excellent
49%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 77 reviews

Pendarvis

Tucked away in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the restoration and preservation efforts of Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum, who saved a significant part of Wisconsin’s past.

Reviewed By jessica1017 - Madison, Wisconsin

Located in Mineral Point, Wisconsin Pendarvis provided a great tour and explanation of the settling of SW Wisconsin in the early 1800s. Our tour guide Kathy was knowledgeable and friendly and the one hour tour gave us a sense of the building construction, mining trade and development of what was at one time the capital of the Wisconsin territory. We were surprised that the town of Mineral Point's main street was all but closed down on a Saturday. There appeared to be many shops that we would have browsed and purchased products in if open. Great day trip from the Madison, WI area.

2. Governor Dodge State Park

4175 Highway 23 North, Dodgeville, WI 53533 +1 608-935-2315
Excellent
65%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 163 reviews

Governor Dodge State Park

Reviewed By Steve H - Madison, Wisconsin

We visited Governor Dodge yesterday to go hiking. The park had a pretty good trail system and we thought it would provide us with some longer hiking options by connecting some of the trails. We are avid hikers, so we enjoy length and elevation changes. We were disappointed. The length is there (we probably went almost 9 miles), and there is some elevation gain/loss (for Wisconsin), but most of the trails were cut through the woods, so there are very few, if any, vistas. I guess we expected to be hiking on some ridge lines with a view of the rolling hills. Those views are not there. Probably the most scenic trail that we found was the Lost Canyon Trail. Again, no vistas, but there was less ground clutter so you could easily see into the woods. The trail also leads you by a small stream with several large rock formations.

3. Shake Rag Alley School of Arts & Crafts

18 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1134
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 30 reviews

Shake Rag Alley School of Arts & Crafts

Shake Rag Alley is a lively arts education center set in a historic picturesque valley that was the heart of Mineral Point's early days. Students come from all over the country to join in the creative fun that takes place here. Several buildings are used as classrooms, and in the summer, you may find classes taking place under the trees or inside tents set up on the 2.5 acre oasis of gardens and tree lined paths. Additional classroom space is available in studios nearby in the artist community.Workshops at Shake Rag Alley are lively, and hard to find anywhere else. We enjoy offering workshops in just about every art and craft media you can imagine. Experimental concrete and mosaic sculpture. Traditional and offbeat bent willow and twig furniture. Jewelry making and beading. Blacksmithing. Vibrant and nonacademic classes in writing - fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting. Fiber arts. Book and paper arts. Plus a variety of fine arts. We're a bunch of arts enthusiasts who love to share what we know how to do with anyone who wants to learn. Our motto is "Inspire Creativity". And we do that well. Our creative faculty is drawn from a wealth of talented teachers, including nationally known artists from across the country and across the street.Kids love Shake Rag too. We offer a wide variety of youth programs taught by talented and creative instructors who bring out the amazing talents of kids.Alley Stage, an outdoor summer theater is tucked into the hillside at the end of a winding path. We invite you to enjoy a delightful evening as our company of actors performs original plays written by playwrights from near and far.The valley is always open for strolling the pathways, viewing the lush gardens and rustic buildings and savoring the peaceful ambiance. Shake Rag also offers on site lodging, so when the day is done, you can stay in one of several guest rooms.

Reviewed By 819marya - Wisconsin Rapids

Interesting collection of old buildings and grounds around the 1800's mining community. Free to just wander around. Office staff full of information and interesting tidbits. Offerings of many different art and crafting classes at various times on the grounds.

4. Brewery Pottery

276 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1057 +1 608-987-3669
Excellent
81%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 30 reviews

Brewery Pottery

Reviewed By mhesterton - Chicago

This pottery studio/ workshop is in a beautiful old stone building about a mile from the town center Our group of six ladies enjoyed browsing through the lovely shop, visiting with the welcoming artist/owners and purchasing some beautiful handmade pieces. If you are in Mineral Point don't miss Brewery Pottery!

5. Mineral Point Railroad Museum

11 Commerce St., Mineral Point, WI 53565-1302 +1 608-987-2695
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16 reviews

Mineral Point Railroad Museum

The Mineral Point Railroad Museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm and Sundays noon-4pm from May through early October. The museum is housed in a two-story stone depot that is the oldest standing RR depot in Wisconsin. Our depot was built in 1856 for the Mineral Point Railroad, which was acquired by the Milwaukee Road RR in 1880. The depot was in use until approximately 1969, and the last train left Mineral Point in 1984. The depot was meticulously renovated and restored from 2000 to 2004 and reopened as a museum on September 2, 2004.The contents of the museum cover a wide range of aspects of the railroad's significance to Mineral Point and Southwestern Wisconsin, but our artifacts should appeal to adults and children of any age. We also have a 5'x11' model railroad that was professionally developed for us that reflects a scale replica of the area around the Mineral Point depot during its heyday - 1900 to 1920 - including an operating steam locomotive, water tank, lumber yard, turntable, and two engine houses. Pushing a button will cause a steam locomotive to move around the RR yard while related sounds play through a speaker. Our museum is conveniently located near other points of historical interest in Mineral Point, including other Commerce Street attractions, Shake Rag street, and Pendarvis. A comfortable tour of the museum might last 45 minutes and a visit to the museum and nearby shops (open seasonally) within walking distance would make a wonderful day trip. Mineral Point is located about 45 minutes from Madison or Dubuque. We welcome group visit inquiries - please leave us a message and we will respond. We may be able to offer your group a guided tour with adequate notice.Let us know if we can answer any questions and we hope that you visit us soon!

Reviewed By 14clubs - Chicago Burbs

While our visit was specifically to see Mineral Point and the area, this museum would be worth a side trip. Very informative display cases professionally organized. Many old pictures and artifacts with descriptions and explanations. Recreated in the museum are a dispatcher's office and a station masters office. Vintage maps provide insights to how the area used to look. A working model railroad layout and static diorama bring it all to life. The layout isn't just a collection of trains on some tracks, but an actual scale depiction of the town as per original maps, photographs, and books. This museum will appeal to people who like history or trains.

6. Wantoot--Modern American Art and Craft

236 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1210 +1 608-284-5927
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 4 reviews

Wantoot--Modern American Art and Craft

Wantoot--Modern American Art and Craft a gallery and showroom dedicated to promoting the work of American artists. The gallery features art jewelry, pottery, wearable art, art glass and studio furniture--all by individual artists from the United States. The gallery also has rotating shows of paintings, photography and sculpture.

Reviewed By Tom C

First off, Mineral Point has a great historic presence. Going into Wantoot the owners manage to renovate the building in keeping with the history. Better yet they use the look and feel of the building to high light contemporary art and crafts in a way...MoreThanks very much. We try very hard to keep Wantoot as uncluttered as possible. Clutter equals visual overload which may prevent one from fully appreciating an individual piece of art.

7. The Foundry Books

105 Commerce St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1377 +1 608-987-4363
Excellent
58%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
14%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7 reviews

The Foundry Books

Reviewed By arriveanddepart - Chicago, IL

What started in 1847 as an iron foundry, eventually became a bookstore specializing in Wisconsin history, maps and literature, and American haiku poetry! Proprietor Gayle Bull and her late husband Jim Bull were the editors and publishers of the first U.S.-based haiku magazine, American Haiku. Today, The Foundry Books is also host to various haiku workshops, retreats and readings, as well as the Cradle of American Haiku Festival weekend, which takes place every other summer. The next retreat is in 2015, and the next festival is 2016.

8. Alley Stage

18 Shakerag St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1134 +1 608-987-3292
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Alley Stage

Alley Stage is a nationally recognized theater company based in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, dedicated to the production of original and popular plays, readings and music events. Alley Stage produces a summer season on an intimate outdoor stage nestled in historic Shake Rag Alley, as well as events throughout the year at Mineral Point Opera House and other local venues.

Reviewed By lefromagepetit - Chillicothe, Illinois

BEAUTIFUL outdoor theater nestled into a natural stone wall in Southwestern Wisconsin. The plays are charming, hilarious, moving, nostalgic, and exceedingly eclectic. In addition, it's part of the Shake Rag Alley complex that is home to an array of restored buildings, beautiful gardens, and exciting art classes. I've been going to plays there since they opened (6 years ago) and an evening there has never failed to astonish me. Grab a snack and a Spotted Cow at the concession stand and ease into one of the cozy seats because there's no place on earth quite like it.

9. Midway Bar And Grill

140 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565-1208 +1 608-987-4309
Excellent
67%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3 reviews

Midway Bar And Grill

Reviewed By toadsoup - Chicago, Illinois

We wanted an after dinner drink and almost overlooked this place because it had the appearance, well, of a typical neighborhood dive. So we went in for a drink and were pleasantly surprised at the overall wonderful, friendly service we received. The bar, itself, was a bit worn but it was clean. Just came from a rather disappointing dinner at Kusaka, so we didn't sample any food (maybe we should have). The drinks were VERY reasonable and very good. If we're ever back in Mineral Point, we will definitely revisit the Midway Bar and Grill. Glad we tried it!

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