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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.