TRAVEL GUIDE

Travel Wisconsin and Aztalan State Park

Hundreds of years ago, before high-rise buildings, budget car rentals and breweries invaded the prairies of Wisconsin; there lived a civilization of skilled Native Americans. These intelligent beings were part the Native American culture known as the Middle Mississippian Tradition, known for their architectural skills and masonry. Today, the Middle Mississippian Tradition is alive a well, thanks in part to the Aztalan State Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Travel Wisconsin tourists are encouraged to visit this wonderful historical park to learn more about the area's Native American roots.

Explore the magnificent mounds at Aztalan State Park

Travel Wisconsin tourists will find many remnants of the Middle Mississippian Tradition at Aztalan State Park, the most prominent of which are the three platform mounds located at the site's heart. The largest of the mounds may have been a storage facility for the entire Aztalan village, protecting food like corn from the outside elements. Or, the mound may have been used for ceremonial purposes. No one is absolutely certain what this mound was intended for, but most historians and anthropologists agree - it was very important to the Aztalan people. The other two mounds show evidence of burning, leading anthropologists to believe that fire pits were located either inside or very near these structures.

See the Aztalan stockade for yourself

Another impressive feature of the Aztalan State Park is the village stockade. This protective barrier surrounds three of the village's four sides and was built out of logs set into the ground vertically. Willow branches would have then been weaved between the large poles, creating a sturdy fence. The fence would then be plastered with a mixture of clay and grass in order to make it solid. The original stockade is believed to of had 33 square watchtowers and a cleverly camouflaged gate. It is not clear what this stockade was used for; however it seems likely that it was used to keep invaders away.

Preserving the park for generations of travel Wisconsin visitors

The Aztalan settlement was first uncovered in 1835 by a man named Timothy Johnson. Sadly, Johnson was unable to keep the site from being sold. By the late 1850's, much of the site had been destroyed. The surface had been ploughed, the mounds had been levelled and pottery shards had been removed and used to help mend potholes. Modern archaeological excavations didn't take place at Aztalan until 1919. Excavations and reconstructions continued until the late '60s. Travel Wisconsin tourists will now find the Aztalan State Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a nationally recognized historic landmark.

Find out more at the Aztalan at the onsite museum

Wisconsin travel tourists are invited to stop in at the Aztalan Museum to learn more about the State Park's history. The museum is operated by the Lake Mills-Aztalan Historical Society and is just north of the park. The museum is open from noon to 4pm, Thursdays through Sundays from mid-May to late-September. Admission is just $3 for adults and $1 for children. Travel Wisconsin tourists can learn more about the Aztalan Museum by calling 1-920-648-4632 or 1-920-648-4496.

Follow these directions to find Wisconsin's past

Travel Wisconsin tourists will find Aztalan State Park on Main Street in Lake Mills. It is located on the east side of Jefferson County Highway Q. If you're coming from the west, follow Interstate Highway 94 until you reach State Highway 89. Head south on the State Highway towards Lake Mills. If you're coming from the east, take I-94 to State Highway 26 south. From there, follow Johnson Creek to Highway B. The park is open from 6am to 11pm daily. Admission is free; however a vehicle admission sticker is required for those travel Wisconsin tourists that are planning to drive. The park is composed of mostly open prairie, with 38 of its 172 acres being oak woods. Travel Wisconsin tourists will find picnic areas, wells and toilets.