By: Bridget Sharkey

Wisconsin cities like Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison (the state’s capital) are well known to tourists, but hidden across the state are enchanting small towns with fascinating histories.

Let’s take a stroll through time and find out what makes these storybook small towns so bewitching:

Stockholm

Stockholm was founded by Swedish settlers in 1854. It is the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Wilder is the author of the classic “Little House on the Prairie” series, and you can see the hardy frontier spirit from her books reflected in her hometown.  Scandinavian influence is evident throughout Stockholm, Wisconsin. Homes are designed in a Scandinavian style, featuring gables, steep roofs, and clapboard siding. And many 19th-century buildings are still standing. As you walk down the cobblestone streets, you will hear echoes of the past, and you will smell the rich cardamom spices that early Swedish settlers used in their baked goods. Now, you can purchase these same treats, such as cardamom buns (kardemummabullar) and cinnamon rolls (kanelbullar), at famous bakeries like Stockholm Pie and Jenny Lind Bakery.

Cedarburg

Brick-lined streets and historic buildings are part of Cedarburg’s allure. This mill town is located just 25 miles north of Milwaukee. Cedarburg has more than 200 historic sites, including its covered bridge, known as “Red Bridge.” Cedarburg attracts tourists seeking a glimpse into the past. In August, people flock to the city’s Architectural Treasures tour, where you can go inside the homes where early settlers lived and worked. You can also tour the Cedarburg Mill—this working mill still produces 120 barrels of flour daily. There is a heavy German influence in Cedarburg cuisine. From schnitzel to stollen to German breweries, tourists can eat like the town’s founders.

Ephraim

Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, Ephraim is a living testament to the past. The city was founded by Reverend Andreas Iverson of the Moravian Church. Reverend Iverson and his followers wanted to create a town that reflected their morals. This included an emphasis on simple living, missionary work, education, and temperance (an alcohol-free lifestyle). For decades, Ephraim was a ‘dry’ city, but since 2016, diners have been able to buy wine and beer at restaurants. Tourists come to Ephraim to enjoy the scenic harbor and the lovely lakefront views, and to visit the historic buildings, including the general store, Reverend Iverson’s home, log cabins, and the town’s schoolhouse. It’s a step into the past, and an educational stop for anyone interested in Wisconsin’s history.

Bayfield

This tiny town is named after the explorer Henry Bayfield, who was a British naval officer and surveyor. But, before his arrival in the 1850s, Bayfield was populated by members of the Ojibwe tribe. The Ojibwe came from the East, seeking ‘food that grows on water’ (wild rice). Wild rice can be harvested in the area to this day, if you have a permit. Bayfield’s location on one of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes (Lake Superior) gives it a rich maritime history. Visitors can learn more about the city’s nautical history (from shipwrecks to lighthouses to fishing to boatbuilding) at the Bayfield Maritime Museum.  

Elkhart Lake

First settled by the Potawatomi tribe, Elkhart Lake was originally called “Me-shay-way-o-deh-ni-bis” (which translates into Great Elk Heart Lake). According to Potawatomi tradition, the lake was so named because a warrior named Elkheart tragically died in the lake after a quarrel with his jealous lover. In the 1900s, the creation of the Elkhart Train depot brought travelers from cities like Milwaukee and Chicago, and the town became known as a ‘gambler’s paradise.’ The curved roads around Elkhart Lake also became popular among road racers, and it quickly became one of the premier sites in America for race car fans. Now known as Road America, this four-mile motorsport course attracts drivers from across the world, including celebrity drivers like Mario Andretti!