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go to: official county website
go to: Pepin County tourism page

go to Dunn County

go to Pierce County
 

 
go to Eau Claire County

go to Buffalo County

       map provided by Delorme mapping software

 


 

attractions & oddities

resources

 

1

Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Wayside & Cabin

 

location:  Pepin
historic structure

click to enlarge

      

click to enlarge


 

This cabin is a recreation of the original that Charles Ingalls built on this land.  Laura was born on this property in 1867 and chronicled her time here in the book "Little House in the Big Woods", which begins her famous literary series.


"...this reconstructed log cabin paints a charming and historically-accurate picture of where Laura was born and what prairie pioneer life was like. The cabin features informative displays about Laura and her family. The wayside is a modern and well-maintained, with picnic tables and restrooms. Fresh water is available as well -- but you have to pump it yourself, just as Laura did!"
- section from Village of Pepin official site


  (7 miles north of Pepin on County Road CC)
Pepin, WI  54759

            

hours:
mid-May thru mid-October  (daily)  8am – 5pm

Little House on the Prairie - 
Country Girls (HIGHLIGHTS)
by rudolfo4711

double-click to enlarge video

Village of Pepin Official Site
www.pepinwisconsin.com

Laura Ingalls Wilder Official Site
www.lauraingallswilder.com

book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page 55

buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

YouTube.com
"LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: The Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder"

book:
"The Wisconsin Story: 150 Stories/150 Years"
by Dennis McCann
Journal Sentinel Inc (1998)
page 24
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

books by Laura Ingalls Wilder:
buy them at
buy them at Barnes & Noble.com

 

2

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days

 

location:  Pepin
museum / event

click to enlarge

      

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The real Laura Ingalls as a youth.
      

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The elder Laura. 

click to enlarge

photo courtesy of NBC and Worldvision
      

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The real Ingalls family (1894)

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In a 1948 letter written to her cousin, Laura Ingalls Wilder tells about being the last member of the Ingalls family still alive.
      

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Pioneer photo op. 

 


"The stop for Laura buffs! Located right in Pepin on Highway 35, the museum offers displays, memorabilia, antiques and souvenirs about Laura and the pioneer era. Volunteer staff will answer questions and provide fascinating insights on Laura and her life."
- section from Village of Pepin official site


  306 Third St.
Pepin, WI  54759

                  

hours:
mid-May thru mid-October  (daily)  10am – 5pm

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days is held in mid-September.


Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
Official Site
www.lauraingallspepin.com

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days
www.lauradays.org

Laura Ingalls Wilder Official Site
www.lauraingallswilder.com

book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page 55

buy it at buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

Little House in the Big Woods: Pepin, Wisconsin
by liwfrontiergirl

double-click to enlarge video

 

3

Old Courthouse Facade Replica & Diorama

 

location:  Durand
emblem of civic pride

"The dominating feature of this 3-dimensional tribute to the citizens of Pepin County and the City of Durand is the facade of the stately Old Pepin County Courthouse, the last remaining wood-framed courthouse in Wisconsin. The Old Courthouse is an icon of local history and its striking image evokes respect and a strong sense of place. A panoramic view of the City of Durand's river front backdrops the Old Courthouse and recognizes the important impact of Chippewa River has had on both the City and the County."
- section from City of Durand website

  in Tarrant Park on Highway 85

click to enlarge

photo courtesy of City of Durand site
City of Durand
www.cityofdurand.com

 

 

 

natural feature / altered landscape

resources

 

1

Maiden Rock Bluff  (400 feet high)

 

location:  south of Maiden Rock (Pierce County) / Stockholm
scenic bluff / Indian lore

click to enlarge

"The Indian legend of the bluff called Maiden Rock, which has some basis in historical fact, concerns a young Dakota Indian woman, Winona, who leaped to her death from the top of the most prominent bluff in the region rather than marry the brave her father, Chief Red Wing, had chosen for her."
- section from Maiden Rock official site

  From Highway 35 in Stockholm, head north on County Road J for ¾ mile, then northwest on County Road E for 1 mile, then west on Long Lane for ½ mile until you reach the parking lot.

Mississippi Valley Partners
www.mississippi-river.org

Stockholm Official Site
www.stockholmwisconsin.com

Wisconsin DNR
www.dnr.state.wi.us

Lake Links
"Lover's Leap, myth or legend?"
www.lakelinks.com

book:
"Wisconsin Lore"
by Robert E. Gard & L.G. Sorden
Heartland Press (1962, 1987)

pages 185 - 186
buy it at
buy it at
Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page 73
buy it at

buy it at
Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

 

sighting / phenomenon / morbid curiosity

resources

 

1

Woman & Children See UFO  (1966)

 
UFO
location:  Durand

"...hovering 1 m above ground and making a deafening noise."
- section from UFO Wisconsin report

UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

 

2

• Devil's Corner  (town north of pepin)

• Devil's Gate  (valley west of arkansaw)

 
hellish moniker
location:  Pepin / Arkansaw

The Weird Wisconsin website ponders the multitude of Devil-related place names in Wisconsin.

Weird Wisconsin
www.weird-wi.com or archived (here)

 

3

Group Observes UFO  (2004)

 
UFO
location: north of Mondovi (Buffalo County)

"When using binoculars to view the biggest light, the one in the NE, he stated it looked like a Christmas tree.  They saw a conventional aircraft cross the sky what appeared to be underneath the light in question."
- section from UFO Wisconsin report

UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

 

4

Point-No-Point

 
unexplained phenomenon         optical illusion
location:  south of Maiden Rock (Pierce County)

"Called Point-No-Point, the three-mile-long bluff creates an optical illusion to boaters traveling down river. From a distance, it appears to be a point jutting out into the water, but the illusion disappears as boaters approach it."
- section from Trails website
Explore Wisconsin
www.explorewisconsin.com

Trails
www.trails.com

 

5

"The Lady in Brown"

 
haunted
location:  Durand

Odd sounds in the walls.  Doors opening unexpectedly.  Lights switching on by themselves.  An elderly specter appearing in a child's room.  Was this the work of a woman who swore to remain in her home even after he death?


"Suddenly Brenda heard the kitchen door swing open and then close moments later. 'Robert, is that you?' she called out.  There was no answer.  Surprised, she rose quickly and walked into the kitchen.  It wasn't Robert... the nearly transparent image of a woman wearing a brown dress hovered near the outside door!  The specter hung motionless in the air, its vacant eyes staring past the frightened young woman."
- section from Haunted Wisconsin

  southwest of Durand

book:
"Haunted Wisconsin"
by Michael Norman & Best Scott
Trails Books (revised 2001)
pages 95 - 100

buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

6

Pepie
the lake pepin monster

 
lake monster
location:  Pepin

click to enlarge

simulated image 

There is a reward of $50,000 for anyone who can provide "indisputable proof of Pepies existence" offered by the Pepie.net website (link at right).  The creature has been sighted since the late 1800's.

  Lake Pepin

Official Site
www.pepie.net

Cryptozoology.com
www.cryptozoology.com

Eau Claire Leader Telegram
article "A monster reward" or (here)

Rochester Post Bulletin
article "Is there a monster in Lake Pepin? $50,000 if you find it" or (here)

WCCO
story "Lake Pepin Sea Monster? 'Capture' It For $50,000" or (here)

book:
"The Wisconsin Road Guide to Mysterious Creatures"
by Chad Lewis
On The Road Publications (2011)
pages 29 - 35
buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

"Ghosts of America" Haunted Location Reports
(take with a grain of salt)

 
ghosts
location:  statewide

The reports on this site are presumably fiction, using random Wisconsin place names in the stories listed there.  Even so, you might get a kick out of reading them.

"The spirit of a chained up female can regularly be noticed repositioning orbs around mid stream in Arkansaw Creek."
- section from Ghosts of America website

Ghosts of America
www.ghostsofamerica.com

 

 

 

taste of local history

resources

 

1

Old Courthouse Museum & Jail

 

location:  Durand
museum

"The stately courthouse, which today is the only remaining wood-framed courthouse in Wisconsin, served the people of Pepin County for 110 years. This gracious old building today stands proudly on Washington Square, a testament to the strength and devotion of the citizens of Pepin County and the City of Durand. The Old Courthouse Museum and the Jail next door are both on the National Register of Historic Places."
- section from the Pepin County Official Site

 

 

click to enlarge


  Washington Square
Durand, WI  54736

                     

hours:
Memorial Weekend thru mid-October (Sundays)  1pm – 5pm

School District of Durand
www.durand.k12.wi.us

Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org

 

2

Old Post Office Museum

Historic Downtown Stockholm

 

location:  Stockholm
museum

"On Spring Street in the Village of Stockholm, which lies along the Mississippi River north of Pepin, visitors will find a number of historic sites, 19th and early 20th century buildings including the Stockholm Institute and Old Post Office Museum, a Harness Shop, the Merchants Hotel Building, a General Store, the Opera House, a Blacksmith Shop, The Youngquist-Peterson Building and the Bruchman Hotel Building. These vintage buildings now house a museum, antique shops, art galleries, specialty shops, cafes and more."
- section from Explore Wisconsin website


  downtown Stockholm on Spring Street

                  

hours:
May thru mid-December  (daily)  11am – 5pm

Stockholm Official Site
www.stockholmwisconsin.com

 

3

Pepin Railroad Depot Museum

 

location:  Pepin
museum

"Located on Highway 35 and in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park. This building was the original Pepin depot, and was saved from destruction years ago by a former railroad employee. Now restored, it's chock full of railroad and steamboat memorabilia that's been donated by museum patrons."
- section from the Village of Pepin official site

 

 
click to enlarge

  (at Laura Ingalls WIlder Memorial Park)
800 3rd Street
Pepin, WI  54759

                     

hours:
May thru November  (daily)

Village of Pepin Official Site
www.pepinwisconsin.com

 

4

Pepin Historical Museum

 

location:  Pepin
museum

The Pepin Historical Museum and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum are one and the same.  Many items from Pepin's history and the pioneer days are on display along with many "Little House" related items.


  306 Third St.
Pepin, WI  54759

                         

hours:
mid-May thru mid-October  (daily)  10am – 5pm

click to enlarge
Pepin Official Site
www.pepinwisconsin.com

Museum Official Site
www.lauraingallspepin.com

 


updated 05-16-11  •  all images excluding those attributed to others are property of Wisconsinosity.com