Attendance rises at Wisconsin historical sites
The Wheelmen ride vintage cycles around Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor living history museum in Eagle during a "Wheel Fever" program earlier this summer. More people have been visiting Wisconsin's historic sites and museums this year, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldWisconsin
MADISON — More people have been visiting Wisconsin's historic sites and museums this year.
The Wisconsin Historical Society says attendance this year through mid-August is up 4.8 percent over the same period last year. Attendance was up at 10 of 11 historical sites and museums.
Society officials say good weather and a number of events, including an opportunity to ride historic bikes at Old World Wisconsin, the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie du Chien at Villa Louis and new exhibits at the Wisconsin Historical Museum helped boost attendance.
The only site that saw a decline was the first Capitol near Belmont. Attendance there dropped 11.6 percent. Society officials say construction at that site probably makes it look less inviting and they haven't promoted that site heavily.