Discover the History of Jefferson County and Try Our Self-Guided Walking Tours

Published On: Saturday, May 9, 2020 – By Heather Morgan – Categories: Blog, Special Features – Tags: driving tours, history, museums, self-guided tours, walking tours –

Visit our historic neighborhoods or stop at a local museum and hear interesting stories about the founders and first settlers of our County. One of the top historical sites in the state is located in Jefferson County. Aztalan State Park contains ruins of an ancient Native American village established in 1050 AD. The archaeological site has been a National Historic Landmark since 1964 and is a must see along with the Aztalan Museum site, located next to the State Park, which includes a museum housed in the Baptist Church and 7 additional pioneer buildings.

The Octagon House Museum in Watertown was one of the largest homes built prior to the Civil War in Wisconsin. Today, it is maintained as a public museum and the museum grounds are home to the first Kindergarten in America, a restored pioneer barn and a tour center.

Discover area local history and an impressive collection of artifacts at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson. The Museum is also home the collection of Lorine Niedecker, an internationally recognized poet.