With whimsical sculpture gardens, wacky museums, and quirky roadside attractions, there’s so much more to Wisconsin than cheese and breweries (although those are great, too!).
If you love things weird (and totally wonderful), add these spots to your Wisconsin bucket list.
The House on the Rock
You’ll need several hours to experience this massive complex of intriguing architecture, gardens, streets, and shops! See the house that started it all—it’s legit a house built atop a rock spire. Check out the Infinity Room, designed to make you feel like you’re walking on air above the valley below. Ride the world’s largest indoor carousel, listen to an impressive collection of self-playing instruments, and explore a nostalgic recreation of a 19th-century town with old-fashioned storefronts.
Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron
Standing 50 feet high and 120 feet wide, Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron in Sumpter is the second-largest scrap metal sculpture in the world. The creator, Tom Every, spent his life collecting antique machinery for this 300-ton sculpture. You’ll notice high-voltage components from 1920s power plants, lighting rods, and even a decontamination chamber from Apollo 11. Walk through the rest of this sculpture park to snap pictures of metallic birds, spaceships, and musical instrument pieces.
National Mustard Museum
Grab your hot dog (or pretzel!) before heading to the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, home to the world’s most extensive mustard collection. Browse through 6,000 different jars of mustard from 70 different countries, learn more about the history of mustard, and then sample wacky mustards ranging from root beer to ghost pepper flavors at the tasting bar. The best part? It’s free!
Witch’s Gulch
Visit Witch’s Gulch, only accessible on an Upper Dells Boat Tour, to experience the spookier side of Wisconsin. This slot canyon, carved by an ancient lake over thousands of years, is the site of supernatural Indigenous American lore. According to legend, serpents slithered through these massive sandstone rocks and now live here with other evil spirits. Follow the trail through this canyon to explore narrow passageways and mossy cliffs! And watch out for serpent spirits!
The World’s Largest Penny
If you’re driving through northern Wisconsin, you can’t miss stopping for a photo op in Woodruff. This massive coin is the world’s largest penny at 15 feet tall, nearly 9 tons, and 12 inches thick. Built as a tribute to Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb, who raised over a million pennies to build a new hospital in 1954, this is more than just a coin—it’s a community landmark.
Mars Cheese Castle
If you went to Wisconsin and didn’t sample any cheese, did you really go to Wisconsin? Stop by the Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha, one of the best cheese stores in this state. This unique shop is legit designed like a castle. Welcome to cheese royalty! Sample cheeses like sharp cheddar, baby Swiss, and white cheddar before purchasing a block to bring home. You can also grab lunch or dinner at the onsite restaurant—of course, the fried cheese curds are a must-try!
The Rhinelapus
There’s no shortage of cryptid legends and mythological folklore throughout northern Wisconsin, and Monico, Wisconsin, is no exception. Half folk art, half-mythical cryptozoological monument, The Rhinelapus is rumored to be closely related to the Hodag, the mythological monster who resides in the next town over. With three massive appendages, a lizard-like head, and feet with three claws, this sculpture is one of the best places in the area to snap a selfie!
Jurustic Park
Owned by Clyde and Nancy Wynia, this unique outdoor attraction has a massive collection of large, quirky sculptures made from scrap metal and other repurposed materials. The sculptures depict various “extinct” creatures from the “rusty” ages. As you wander through the park, you’ll notice how Clyde and Nancy’s sense of humor is infused into every piece, from the sly grins of prehistoric critters to the playful poses of the metal dragons.
The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion
Want to see some funky architecture? Step into the 142,050-square-foot Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Spend an afternoon exploring this pavilion’s flowing, organic forms and expansive glass walls; this light-filled space houses galleries, a cafe, and event spaces. It’s also hard to miss the pavilion’s Burke Brise Soleil, known as “the wings.” With a wingspan of 217 feet, this moveable wing-like sunscreen opens and closes throughout the day.
Fred Smith’s Wisconsin Concrete Park
This roadside attraction in northern Wisconsin is the creation of amateur artist Fred Smith! Here, you’ll find concrete sculptures of Indigenous Americans, elk, bison, horses and more! Stroll around this half-mile trail through the woods to see all 237 of Fred’s restored sculptures now colorfully painted. You can even spend the night in the onsite Airbnb—all profits go toward park restorations.
