Hoard Historical Museum
A great history museum with something for all!
Learn about Native American Mounds, the Civil War and local history.
And... we're free, no general admission.
Hoard Historical Museum
401 Whitewater Ave.
Fort Atkinson WI 53538
The Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, is a regional resource for local history and cultural heritage, as well as a community gathering place. It exists as the result of a unique partnership between the City of Fort Atkinson and the Fort Atkinson Historical Society, since 1939. The National Dairy Shrine joined these two partners in 1980.
As both a City Department and a private membership organization, the Museum receives about 60 percent of its funding from the City. The other 40 percent comes from Society membership fees, gifts, trust funds and grants. A 16-member Board of Directors governs the Fort Atkinson Historical Society.
In 2007, a 13,500 square foot addition was added to the Hoard Historical Museum campus, which now comprises three floors of long term and changing galleries, two historic houses, a local research library and archive, a museum store, and a large community room. Our diverse gardens, maintained by the Jefferson County Master Gardeners, grace the museum grounds.
Business Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tue - Sat
- -
- Sunday
- Closed
National Dairy Shrine Museum
The National Dairy Shrine Museum, which is attached to the Hoard Historical Museum, encompasses two floors and features a multimedia show, as well as numerous displays of dairying artifacts, awards, cow breeds. Founded in 1949 by a small group of visionary dairy leaders, the National Dairy Shrine now has nearly 18,000 members representing virtually every facet of the industry.
The Bird Room
Approximately 500 birds peer back at you when you enter this unusual room on the second floor of the Frank and Luella Hoard House at the Hoard Historical Museum. This includes birds mounted by famed naturalist Thure Kumlein and taxidermist Walter Pelzer. Also included in this display is a beautiful example of the extinct passenger pigeon.
