Iowa County Historical Society

The Iowa County Historical Society incorporated in 1976 to discover and preserve the history of the people of Iowa County, Wisconsin and maintains many historical archives at the Iowa County Historical Society Museum.

Call 608-935-7694 or email us to make an appointment to study your Iowa County past.

Open year-round except for holidays.
weekdays 1-4 pm and by appointment at other times.

Located at
1301 N Bequette St., Dodgeville, WI

Iowa County Historical Society
Museum

Photo by Neil Giffey

Iowa County Historical Society
Services

Reprints of Iowa County history books

Artifacts and scrapbooks from Iowa County past

Microfilm of Iowa County newspapers

Historical Photo collections of life in Iowa County

Family genealogy collections including oral histories

Archives of Iowa County surnames

Obituary Files and cemetery records

Iowa County History
Facts

Iowa County was part of the Michigan Territory in the 1830's. In 1836 the Wisconsin Territory was created from the Michigan Territory, and in 1848 the State of Wisconsin was created from the Wisconsin Territory. Dodgeville became the county seat in 1861, and is the site of Wisconsinís oldest operating Courthouse.

Early settlers came to Iowa County to mine lead, and several mines were operating around Dodgeville, Mineral Point and Barneveld. In the late 1820ís this area furnished 75 percent of the U.S. needs for lead.

Thanks to the Iowa County Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension for these facts about Iowa County, Wisconsin.