Don't Miss - Hidden Valleys of Southwestern Wisconsin

The Great River Road ~ Driving Tour
Welcome to the Great River
Road, designated one of America’s
Scenic Byways. The 250 mile
length of the Wisconsin Corridor,
from Kieler to Prescott, invites the
traveler to embark on a two-day
road trip. To make the journey
“traveler friendly,”
simply follow
the white signs
displaying a green
pilot’s wheel with
the words “Great
River Road,” and
which also bears
the familiar red,
white, and blue pennant with
a white star to indicate a
Scenic Byway.
Crossing the Wisconsin/
Illinois border, or entering
from Dubuque, Iowa, one
can stop at the Wisconsin Visitors’ Center just south of Kieler, to
obtain all the information needed to begin an eventful
experience. Traveling north to DIckEyVILLE, you
will exit Highway 151 and turn onto Hwy. 35/61. In
Dickeyville, stop at the Grotto, a patriotic and religious
shrine built by Father Mattias Werneus about 1925.
From Dickeyville, continue on Hwy. 35/61 until you
reach POTOSI/TENNySON, Wisconsin’s “Catfish
Capitol.” The second weekend in August the annual
Catfish Days are held, which include a tractor and truck
pull, fireworks, parade, and, of course, catfish! Each
year more than 2,000 lbs. of mouth watering catfish are consumed
by hungry visitors. Driving down the
“longest main street in Wisconsin” will
bring you past the Passage Thru Time
Museum, featuring Native American
artifacts, historical documents and photos,
and Potosi Brewery memorabilia. A must
stop is at the St. John Lead Mine, one of
the oldest known lead mines in America.
Harry Henderson, the owner, has delighted children and adults with
informative and delightful stories of the mining history, so much a part
of southwest Wisconsin. Tours of the mine are available. It’s a “Do
Not Miss” experience! For the venturesome, a short up-hill trail will
bring you to authentic Badger Huts used by early miners.
As you continue down Highway 133 (The Great River Road) in
POTOSI, you will come to the newly restored Potosi Brewery &
National Brewery Museum on your right, now open daily. Entering
the building is the lobby of The Great River Road Interpretive
Center, and the Potosi Brewery Transportation Museum. The
National Brewery Museum, displaying collections from many
Wisconsin breweries, as well as from around the nation, is located
on the second and third floors. Take time in the great room or the
outdoor eating area to savor one of the five beer varieties brewed on
the site, or a cold glass of root beer while enjoying a meal from the
restaurant. A gift shop specializing in Wisconsin cheeses, a variety
of wines, and the works of local artists is an added treat. Read the
stories about the Port of Potosi, and enjoy vintage photographs of the
steamboats that used to dock there. Spend time in the outside garden
with beautiful flowers and the natural spring waterfall.
Before you leave Potosi, treat yourself to a unique Mississippi River
experience. At the end of the “three-mile Main Street” is a narrow
point of land leading to
the River. Cross under the
railroad bridge and travel out
on the jetty. Designated a
National Wildlife Refuge, it is
visited annually by 273 species
of birds including swans,
American white pelicans,
egrets, herons, and a variety of
diving ducks. In the entire 250 mile corridor of the Great River Road,
this is as far out as you can be on the Mississippi River without being
in a boat.
Continuing on Hwy. 133 west for 18 miles, you will find yourself
“descending” as the road takes you down into cASSVILLE. If an area
needs history, scenic beauty, water and friendliness to attract visitors,
then Cassville fits the bill perfectly. It is the home of the first governor
of Wisconsin, Governor Nelson Dewey.
Nelson Dewey State Park, located one mile west of Cassville on Cty.
VV, is on land that was once part of Governor Nelson
Dewey’s estate, which he called Stonefield. Guided
tours of the Governor Nelson Dewey home site
are provided by Stonefield Historic Site, which is
located across the highway from the park. Nelson
Dewey State Park features breathtaking blufftop
views of the Mississippi River as well as numerous
Woodland Indian mounds. Watch
eagles in the fall and winter, and
walk along native prairie and
woodland trails.
Visit Stonefield Historic Site
across from the park and discover
your agricultural heritage as
you explore the four parts of
Stonefield:
• Nelson Dewey home site – once owned by Wisconsin’s
first state governor.
• Wisconsin State Agricultural Museum – superb
examples of 19th Century agricultural machinery, including the 1896
McCormick Auto mower, which is the oldest tractor in North America.
• 1900 farmstead.
• 1900 village featuring over 30 buildings.
In 2005 Stonefield was selected as the 57th Great River Road
Interpretive Center. An exhibit titled “River Connections” details the
connections of the Mississippi River to Cassville and Stonefield Historic
Site.
Wisconsin’s newest tourist attraction is the Cassville Car Ferry. In
the struggle to cross the river, a ferry has always been commissioned
for such purposes. History records young Nelson Dewey’s thoughts
as he came across the ferry at Buene Vista as early as 1836. Take a
ride today on “The Charlie D” and visualize how the same bluffs would
have appeared in those early days. Closed Monday and Tuesday, but in
operation the remaining days of the week until October 31st. Enjoy
the ride either by car or as a “walk-on” and provide yourself with a
memorable experience!
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Hidden Valleys