It may look just like any other small town in south-central Wisconsin, but Fort Atkinson, with a population of around 10,000, has more than enough to keep anyone busy.
Nestled along the banks of the Rock River, Fort Atkinson has a lovely little downtown with a main street (called Main Street!) that is pure Americana, with restaurants, taverns and shops.
At the southern end of downtown is the Hoard Historical Museum, 407 Merchants Ave. (920-563-7769), located in the Frank and Luella Hoard home, built in 1864 and donated in 1956. The home's 16 rooms host period furnishings and modern exhibits.
There is the Indian Artifacts Room with more than 4,000 pieces of pottery and tools made of stone, copper and bone, among other objects from the Native American people that lived in the area for thousands of years.
The Bird Room has more than 500 bird-life specimens mounted by Thure Kumlein, John Mueller and Walter Pelzer, including an example of the extinct passenger pigeon. A rustic room holds the Tools and Trades exhibit, with an operational print shop and all manner of tools.
Regional history comes alive in the museum's library and archives as well as in the National Dairy Shrine Visitors' Center, adjacent to the museum, which celebrates and records the history of dairy farming. Also part of the museum is the Foster House, built in 1841 by Fort Atkinson's first residents Dwight and Almira Foster and moved to Foster Street in 1969.
The museum is open 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. During June, July and August, it's open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Visit http://www.hoardmuseum.org for more information.
Fort Atkinson Historical Society (920-563-7769) also hosts a number of great annual events, from a July 4 ice cream social to the Christmas open house each December. Call for details.
Lake Koshkonong, actually just a widening of the river, offers great views and Black Hawk Island, which is a peninsula that divides Lake Koshkonong from Mud Lake and becomes an island during heavy rains. The Four Seasons Getaway (920-568-4570) on the island offers hunting, fishing and other activities.
While in the Fort, visit the panther-shaped intaglio on Hwy. 106 on the western edge of town. It's the only depressed Native American Indian mound in the world, created around 1000 A.D.
The city's history can also be explored at Fort Koshkonong (in Rock River Park, Hwy. 106), where you can almost feel the past come alive as you walk around the replica of this walled fort built in 1832. Aztalan State Park, open April-October, is the perfect place for picnicking or hiking, and the site of a 12th century Native American pyramid village.
There is also some wonderful scenery around Fort Atkinson, so if you've got a bike, strap it to the roof of the car and unload it at the Fort and explore the farmland and countryside between the town and neighboring places like Whitewater (with its lovely mansions) and Milton (with its historic Milton House, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad).
Mustang Manor Riding Stables (N1085 Groeler Rd., 920-563-3232) has daily trail rides from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and hay and sleigh rides, in season.
If you're hungry and/or want to see a show, follow the buses to the Fireside Theatre (1131 Janesville Ave, 1-800-477-9505), well-known throughout the state as being one of Wisconsin's best dinner theaters since 1964.
For details about tickets and current shows, presented in the round, visit their Web site at http://www.firesidetheatre.com/.
For folk music and coffee, visit Cafe Carpe (18 S Water St W, 920-563-9391), which hosts some of the region's best singer/songwriters.
On your way out to the Fort, if you choose to take I-94, you'll pass the Johnson Creek outlet mall, which has a Gap Outlet, a Nike store, an Old Navy and more. At the same exit is the hilltop building that once housed the wonderful Gobbler restaurant and motel. You'll also drive through downtown Jefferson, which has some interesting sights and the Jefferson House eatery (135 S. Main St., 920-674-2246).
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
