10-6-12 and 5-16-14

You would never believe it, but a great city of Native Americans once lived in Wisconsin about 900 years ago.  We took a trip to Aztalan Museum  to learn more. Let’s visit the museum first.  It had just opened for the season only the day before, May 15.  It’s open between mid-May through September Thursday through Sunday from 12-4.   The top photo is the buildings on the left as you enter the parking lot, bottom photo are buildings on the right.  The Aztalan Schoolhouse is across the street, we saw that last. We began our visit in the admissions building to pay our small admissions fee of $5 each to explore the site.  Deb Conlan, who was the docent there that day, said we we among the first visitors of the season, yaay! She told us that the Lake Mills-Aztalan Historic Society would love more people to join them.  Also, more volunteers are needed to maintain the grounds on the site during the summer, or even just man the desk in the admissions building. Call 920-648-4632 for more details. We began our self-guided tour in the former Baptist Church (1852),  a museum since 1942.  Many interesting artifacts inside. Outside is a historic marker.

Next door was the Moravian Church-1861. It was not open but was able to get a view through the window.

    Just outside of the church is the “Princess” burial mound.  An Indian princess from the nearby Aztalan settlement was theorized to have been buried here.

Next was the Bornell cabin, set up like a general store.

The Pettey cabin once housed a family of 8!

Next to this home is the larger Zickert house (after 1867). Inside was an 1800’s kitchen display, also a bedroom. On a rock outside is a marker dedicated to Anne Pickett, founder of the first dairy co-op in Jefferson Co.

Hansen’s Granary, inside were many woodworking tools of days gone by.

The last building on the site was the schoolhouse. Very interesting to see how school used to be.

We had a great visit at the museum, we will be back later, hopefully to help them out as volunteers.