A store built in 1855, a Greek Revival-style house, and a self-guided trail to ancient earthworks make history tangible in different ways in Calumet County. There are also trails, wildlife areas, and experiences on the water, each with its own distinctive landscapes and highlights.
History in Buildings, Collections, and Traditions
The High Cliff General Store was built in 1855 and is now a museum. The Timm House offers a different historical perspective: Dating to 1873, it was built in the Greek Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Tours of the first and second floors last about 45 minutes. Seasonal visitor hours may change; visits by appointment are also available. Check in advance which option works for your visit.
Business and industrial history take center stage at the AriensCo Museum. More than twelve decades of history are presented through historic equipment, artifacts, and memorabilia. The Calumet County Historical Society Museum displays historic machinery as well as vintage cars and trucks. Public visits are available seasonally from June through September; visits by appointment are also available.
The Heritage Museum at St. Martin Heritage Park focuses on the former St. Martin Catholic Church and its founders, Catholic education, and stories of local heroes from the American Civil War and World War I. At the Pioneer Corner Museum, you’ll find a diorama of early New Holstein, scenes of the town’s streets, and exhibits about New Holstein soldiers in the Civil War. The Fenn Button Collection and memorabilia from the Turnverein and Schutzenverein are also on display. Public visits are available seasonally from May through October; visits by appointment are also possible. Check in advance which option is currently available.
The Calumet County Fair dates back to the founding of an agricultural society in 1856. The local food culture offers another distinct perspective: The county has eight unique supper clubs. A typical meal may include a relish tray, bread, soup, salad, an entrée, and an ice cream drink for dessert.
Lake Winnebago, Wildlife Areas, and Trails
Calumet County Park sits on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago and offers hiking and biking trails as well as a modern boat launch. The Calumet County Parks Department also operates three harbors on the eastern shore. The county park offers a variety of activities year-round; in winter, a snow tubing hill is open on weekends when there is sufficient snow cover. Operations depend on weather and the current schedule, so it’s worth checking the schedule in advance.
High Cliff State Park is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago. On the Indian Mound Trail, a self-guided interpretive trail, you can see effigy mounds built by Indigenous people 1,500 years ago. The trail combines an up-close experience of the landscape with a look at the region’s long history.
The wildlife areas also differ considerably in size and habitat. Brillion Wildlife Area covers 4,800 acres of floodplain forest, open prairie, wetlands, nesting ponds, upland hardwood forest, and farmland. Killsnake Wildlife Area extends into southeastern Calumet County and covers about 7,000 acres of prairie grassland, wetlands, forests, marsh, tamarack stands, and bog.
The 843-acre Kiel Marsh Wildlife Area lies where Sheboygan, Calumet, and Manitowoc Counties meet. It provides access to the Sheboygan River for boats, canoes, skiffs, and kayaks. Brillion Nature Center offers another way to experience the landscape: Its 6.5 miles of trails wind through marsh, pond, forest, and prairie habitats.
For a trail connecting communities, the four-mile Friendship State Trail is worth exploring. It runs along State Highway 10 between Forest Junction and Brillion and crosses the Fox River State Trail. The Fox River State Trail connects Calumet County to Green Bay by trail. The Ariens Nordic Center has a lighted 5 km trail network, 3.5 km of paved trails, and a 20-position biathlon range. From spring through fall, Gravity Park USA hosts races on quad, motocross, and dirt-track courses for stock cars. Dates and admission vary by event, so check the schedule in advance.
Discover more destinations: Brillion, Chilton, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Bayfield County, Fond Du Lac County, Monroe and Douglas County.
For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.
