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Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 4pm

Monroe County Local History Room

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Sparta, WI
Monroe County Local History Room

The Monroe County Local History Room's purpose is to connect people to the past in a meaningful way. Museum admission is free.

The Monroe County Local History Room operates a local history museum and research library. Exhibits are for all ages and pertain to Monroe County history. The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm. The Monroe County Local History Room also helps oversee the Paul & Matilda Wegner Grotto located off of Hwy 71 near the Town of Cataract. It is open Memorial Day thru Labor Day. More information can be found at: https://monroecountyhistory.org/content/wegner-grotto/about-the-wegner-grotto.

12/25/2025

This photo of Butch and Honey Hoffman excitedly coming down the stairs on Christmas morning at their house on N. L St. in Sparta in 1949 is one of our favorites in the collection. It certainly captures the joy of Christmas morning.

The History Room will be closed today, but we will be open from 9-4 Friday and Saturday this week.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at the History Room! The Local History Room will be closed today and tomorrow for the Christmas holiday, but our "For the Love of LEGO" exhibit will be back on view at 9:00am on the 26th. Stop in to check it out. The display will be up through January 31. Located at 200 W. Main St., Sparta, WI 54656. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9-4. Free Admission.

12/23/2025

Photo of damage to the Cataract Mill, dam, and bridge following a flood on December 31, 1952. Does anybody have any stories or memories of the 1952 flood in Cataract?

12/20/2025

Here's a fun candid Christmas photo of members of the Ole and Betty Schroeder family of Wilton opening Christmas presents in their living room in 1966. Some of the children pictured are: Jeff (in cowboy hat), Bob, Linda, Judy, Shirley, Theresa, and Patti.

Do you have any family Christmas photos you'd be willing to share with the History Room? The photos can be from any decade but must have been taken in Monroe County, WI. Photos can either be emailed to us at [email protected] or brought into the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum (200 W. Main St., Sparta) to donate or have us scan and return. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9-4.

12/18/2025

Can you help us identify any of these Wyeville 2nd graders from the 1976-1977 school year? The teacher is Mrs. Irene Smith.

12/16/2025

Our Meet and Greet event with Will Tachick and Crosby Ehlenfeldt, LEGO Masters Jr. Season 1 Finalists from Eau Claire, is coming up in just TWO WEEKS. In conjunction with our "For the Love of LEGO" exhibit on the first floor, Will and Crosby will be here Monday, December 29 for TWO programs at 1:00 and 5:30 pm. Come to learn more about their experiences on the show, their love of LEGO, and even get an autograph.

In addition to the Arctic Squid LEGO Build that Will & Crosby already have at the History Room as part of the exhibit, they will also be bringing their large Black Falcon Haunted Countryside LEGO build with moving water features on display this one day only!

The event is free and will be located on the second floor of our building at the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum due to limited seating space on the first floor. Doors open upstairs at 12:30 and 5:00. General seating. A live feed of the program will be going on the first floor for those who are unable to make it upstairs, and Will and Crosby will come down to meet those on the first floor as well. For more information call 608-269-8680.

LEGO® and LEGO Masters Jr. are trademarks of the LEGO Group of companies, Endemol Shine and FOX Television, neither of which sponsor, authorize, or endorse this event.

12/13/2025

Here's a photo of early construction of the Tomah Post Office taken on August 31, 1927. In the background can be seen the Ritzinger Bakery, Andres Hardware Store, and Tomah Cash Store on the 900 block of Superior Avenue. Does anyone have any stories or memories of these businesses?

12/11/2025

Looking for a unique Christmas gift? Be sure to check out our online Gift Shop at www.monroecountyhistory.org/gift-shop. It includes the 2025 Monroe County Plat Book, Wisconsin state and local history books; genealogy books; rare and out-of-print local history publications, including: county and community histories, original plat books and maps, yearbooks, and city directories; as well as DVDs, old-fashioned toys, gravestone cleaning supplies, jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, and other unique gifts.

Items ordered online will be shipped directly to you. In-person gift shop open Tuesday-Saturday, 9-4, 200 W Main St., Sparta. Open until 8 pm on December 12-13 and 19-20.

12/10/2025

Congratulations to Shelby Schwarz of Sparta who is our lucky winner for Week Two of our Ten Weeks of LEGO Set Giveaways! The giveaway is open to youth ages 4-18. Stop into the Local History Room to submit an entry form (and see our "For the Love of LEGO" exhibit). Participants can enter once per week. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9-4. Open until 8pm December 12-13 and 19-20. Admission is free.

12/09/2025

Collection Spotlight: Photo Index. Did you know we have over 26,000 Monroe County, Wisconsin photos available to search on our website? These photos are historic images of people, places, buildings, and events. Professional reproductions of these photos are also available for a small fee and make for great gifts.

Interested in seeing if we have a photo in our collection of someone in your family or local community scene? Just visit www.MonroeCountyHistory.org to search the Photo Index or order a copy of an image.

12/06/2025

Photo of Korner Bakery in Sparta from about 1955. The individuals in the photo are unidentified. The business was located at 100 N. Water St. from the 1940s to the 1980s. Does anybody have any stories or memories of the Korner Bakery to share?

12/04/2025

In conjunction with our "For the Love of LEGO" exhibit, we're excited to announce that Will Tachick and Crosby Ehlenfeldt, LEGO Masters Jr. Season 1 Finalists, will be here Monday, December 29, for a special program at both 1:00 and 5:30 pm. Come meet Will & Crosby and learn more about their experiences on the show and love of LEGO.

In addition to the Arctic Squid LEGO Build that Will & Crosby already have at the History Room as part of the exhibit, they will also be bringing their large Black Falcon Haunted Countryside LEGO build with moving water features on display this one day only!

The event is free and will be located on the second floor of our building at the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum. For more information call 608-269-8680.

Address

200 W Main Street
Sparta, WI
54656

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16082698680

Website

http://www.MonroeCountyHistory.org/

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