Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Explore Wisconsin’s Most Extraordinary Architectural Sites

Wisconsin is home to a vast collection of unusual architecture, including manmade grottos, strange sculpture gardens, and the aptly named House on the Rock. A number of these creations were built with no formal training and no particular audience in mind, using salvaged materials: concrete, broken tile, seashells, industrial scrap. Of these, several have since been recognized as significant works of outsider art and are now preserved by arts foundations. That said, the state doesn’t lack for more conventional estates either, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and a remarkably well-preserved villa built by a 19th century fur baron. This itinerary connects some of the state’s best destinations for art and architecture lovers, running southwest to northeast from Prairie du Chien to Milwaukee.