Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Mineral Point, WI
Year Listed: 2007
Polperro, a home at the Pendarvis State Historic Site in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.
Credit: Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce
A hidden gem nestled in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, Mineral Point is named for the abundant lead that was found here in 1828. Once the capital of the Wisconsin Territory, the town seemed a shoo-in to be named the state capital but Madison came along and dashed Mineral Point’s hopes with a one-vote win. That didn’t stop Mineral Point from making its mark, and today the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known as an architectural treasure trove.
To walk through the town is to experience a century and a half of design from Cornish rock houses to Craftsman bungalows, from simple log cabins to neoclassical confections. The architectural treasures of the town have been keenly guarded since the 1930s when two entrepreneurs purchased a threatened Cornish rock cottage and opened the beloved Pendarvis House restaurant, which is today part of the Pendarvis State Historic Site. Other sites include the limestone Mineral Point Depot, one of the few surviving pre-Civil War train stations in the United States and now the home of a railroad museum.
Other notable sites include the 1914 Mineral Point Opera House and the 1870s Italiante Orchard House. History buffs and antique enthusiasts will be drawn to downtown Mineral Point for shopping and browsing, and art lovers will enjoy the studios and galleries that display the work of scores of artists who call the town home. The hilly and winding streets of Mineral Point are often compared to those of a small European village, and the pastoral beauty of the surrounding countryside’s rock outcroppings and farm field mosaics beckons hikers, bikers, golfers, campers and lazy Sunday afternoon explorers.
For these reasons, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, has named Mineral Point, Wis., to its 2007 list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Mineral Point was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities. Thanks to its welcoming attitude and tremendous community pride, Mineral Point has achieved a standard many communities strive to emulate.
