Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Stonefield Historic Site Opens for the Season June 1
Cassville’s hidden gem of the Great River Road reopens for another year of family fun and history exploration
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CASSVILLE, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society’s Stonefield historic site will re-open for the season on June 1, welcoming visitors back for another year of outdoor enjoyment and opportunities to engage with history around every corner at the former homesite of Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey, who served two terms from 1848 to 1852. Today, guests can explore the expansive site including a recreated 1900s-era village that immerses visitors in turn-of-the-century rural life, the re-built home of Governor Dewey patterned after his original homestead, and Wisconsin’s original agriculture museum brimming with historic farming implements and machinery not yet lost to time.
“No journey along the Great River Road is complete without a visit to Stonefield,” said the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Southwest Sites Regional Director Susan Caya-Slusser. “Encompassing 2,000 acres and located near the Mississippi River, it’s a hidden gem in a beautiful location where guests can discover our agricultural history and explore more than a dozen historically recreated buildings depicting life as it was during the 19th century.”
With the purchase of general admission, guests may visit the historic shops and businesses that would have made a bustling farming town come to life. Guests can also take guided tours of the Farm House and Dewey Homesite, and explore an impressive collection of vintage farming equipment in the Wisconsin State Agricultural Museum. Stonefield is open from June 1 – Sept. 29, 2024, Thursday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost of general admission is $13.50 for adults and teens, $11.50 for seniors (65+), $8 for children (5-12), and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission and 10% off ticketed events.
Additionally, the site will host its annual Safe & Spooky Halloween event in October, offering guests a fright-filled evening of candy, costumes and mysteries. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stonefield.wisconsinhistory.org or click here.
Upcoming Event at Stonefield:
Safe & Spooky Halloween – Saturday, October 19from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Stonefield invites guests to dress in costumes, bring candy bags and get ready for a night of family-friendly frights and historical delights. This annual favorite event features a trove of tricks and treats, as well as a “Light Fright” for little ones until 6:00 p.m. Be wary when nighttime descends, though... ghosts and ghouls are known to appear come dusk! The cost of the event is $5 per person. Safe & Spooky is put on by the Friends of Stonefield and Nelson Dewey State Park. All proceeds support both entities.
About Stonefield
Stonefield is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Comprised of a recreated 1900s-era rural farming village and the State Agricultural Museum, the site traces the history of Wisconsin agriculture from its inception into the 20th century. Stonefield is named after the estate once farmed by Wisconsin's first governor, Nelson Dewey, and includes the site of his former home. Visit stonefieldhistoricsite.org or call (608) 725-5210 for more information and a list of upcoming events. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to this site during regular operating hours.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
