The (WI) Grant County Historical Society's mission is to share the history & stories of Grant County
Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 1-4
129 E Maple St, Lancaster WI The Grant County Historical Society is a repository for objects and documents which relate to the history of Grant County, Wisconsin. We own and operate three sites- The Mitchell-Rountree 1837 Stone Cottage Museum in Platteville;
the Grant County History Museum in Lancaster; and, in collaboration with the Grant County Genealogical Society 129 E. Maple Street Lancaster, WI. 53813, first floor, the Grant County Research Center, 129 E. Maple Street, Lancaster, WI. 53813 Each of these entities has a different purpose, but all three are open to the public during our regular hours or by appointment. The Stone Cottage, located at the corner of Lancaster Rd and Madison St, Platteville, was build by Reverend Samuel Mitchell and his wife Eleanor Thomas Mitchell in 1837 to be their retirement home. The Mitchell-Rountree Stone Cottage is architecturally significant as an example of an early stone colonial dwelling which can be found in the Tidewater region of South Carolina and is perhaps the only example of its kind in Wisconsin or the Midwest. The great-granddaughter of Samuel and Eleanor, Laura J Rountree (born in 1870), lived in the Cottage all of her 95 years. When she passed away in 1966, she bequeathed the 2.5 acres, the Cottage, and all of its contents to The Grant County Historical Society. Since 1966, dedicated volunteers and donors have worked to preserve the home. The history of the building, the people who lived there, and its contents allow us to offer an interesting tour where you will learn about frontier Platteville, the construction of the Cottage, (the oldest building in Platteville), and the lives of the people who lived there. The Cottage is filled with original works of art dating from the early 1800s through the 1940s. Tours are available in the summer months on Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Email the Society at [email protected]
The Grant County History Museum, located at 135 E Maple St in Lancaster, was just opened in fall of 2019. Previously, it was known as the Cunningham Museum. The Museum offers a rich experience with many interesting objects and stories. We offer an overview of Grant County geology and our frontier mining history. We tell the story of the now abandoned African-American Pleasant Ridge community near Beetown, which was a thriving farm community in the 19th century. We share stories in exhibits about regional military participation, regional sports, agriculture, and schools. The collection is well organized and thoughtfully interpreted. The Grant County Research Center, located at 129 E Maple St in Lancaster, contains a wealth of local history information found in hundreds of binders and books containing genealogical information for Grant County families. This material is maintained by Karen Reese and her team of volunteers from the Grant County Genealogical Society. The Research Center also provides access to the deep manuscript, newspaper, and photo archives of the Historical Society. The Research space has tables and chairs where you can do your local history research in comfort. An attendant will retrieve materials for you on request. Please visit the Research Center from 1-4 Monday through Friday. Please email or call with any questions or to make an appointment- (608) 723-4925 or email [email protected] You can also find us on Facebook (Grant County Historical Society). We are a volunteer organization and will return messages as soon as we can. NOTE: PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE TO BE USED ONLY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE GRANT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. For permission, email [email protected]
