Worth the Drive: Iola/Scandinavia
Attractions
Five Must-See Spots
Check out five Iola must-see spots along the Iola River Walk Trail, then see what Scandinavia has to offer
Iola River Road Community Garden
Located on River Road, Iola’s community garden will be the first destination on your Iola River Walk, and it’s sure to start the trip on a colorful note. This isn’t your average community garden, and that’s what makes it worth the drive. Most gardens grow vegetables that are donated to food pantries, and this one does too, but here, the botanical garden is the main attraction. Each year, Iola’s gardening community comes together to grow a dazzling array of flowers, which in the past have included daffodils, tulips, lilies, lavender and liriopes. Once they bloom, it’s a sight to behold, and visitors are encouraged – just call ahead to arrive at a time they’re open. This year’s event lineup has been canceled due to COVID-19, but for more information visit iolacommunitygarden.com, and to schedule a tour, call the Town of Iola board at 715-570-1058.
Iola Historical Society Museum
After a half-mile trek along the river walk from the garden, you’ll reach the Historical Society Museum on Depot Street, home to one of the Midwest’s most extensive Native American artifact exhibits. On display, you’ll find a variety of stone, copper and obsidian artifacts predominantly found in the Waupaca County and Chain O’ Lakes Region including copper fish hooks, needles, projectiles and beads, as well as tools such as drills, scrapers and hoes. The exhibit guides visitors through each key era in Native American history, during the Early Paleo-Indian Tradition dating as far back as 12,000 B.C., the Archaic Tradition, and into the Late Woodland Tradition from 1,100-400 B.C., using the tools to explain how Native Americans might have lived in the Chain O’Lakes throughout early history. The exhibit came from a collaborative effort from Iola’s historical society and University of Wisconsin archaeologist Ray Reser. Currently, the museum is closed due to COVID-19 health concerns, but you can still call ahead to schedule a private tour. Iolahistoricalsociety.org
Historical Village
Capturing key moments of life in Iola from 1894 to 1956, the Iola Historical Village is a must for any Wisconsin history buff. Maintained by the Iola Historical Society, the village contains three historic structures and two reproductions. With a 1930s log cabin, a 1901 firehouse with vintage firetrucks, a 1919 town hall, a 1894 train station, and a 1955 one-room schoolhouse, the historical village captures all the places a community member would have relied on generations ago, living, working, learning and performing civic duties. Maintaining the historical village has been a decades-long project, and they still plan to add more. In the future, look out for a reproduction late 1800s, early 1900s mercantile store building and village square to connect the historical buildings. Currently, building interiors are closed to the public unless you schedule a tour. Iolahistoricalsociety.org
Iola Mills
The eastern end of the River Walk Trail will bring you right to Downtown Iola, making it the perfect chance to check out the Iola Mills, which was the center of industry in Iola from 1853 to 1963. The history of the mills is nearly as long as Wisconsin’s itself, changing ownership across generations and families as well as being home to a surprising number of industries. Most obviously, the sawmill was built to process lumber until 1933, before grinding corn and wheat and, eventually, selling cement of all things. Since, the mills have existed as a historical monument in various ways, once as a historical museum and now as a historically themed restaurant known as the Millstone. The backbone of Iola’s cultural and economic identity, the mills are worth it for anyone intrigued by a unique history lesson, and if it’s a Friday or Saturday, try the Millstone’s pizza or gelato via curbside pickup. For more details about the mills including their fascinating history, visit iolamills.com.
Scandinavia’s Historic Street
Once you’ve experienced Iola, Downtown Scandinavia is just a five-mile drive south of Iola and is another great way to experience Wisconsin history, thanks to The Friends of Scandinavia who have maintained the community’s historic buildings. While Iola’s historical village primarily shows off civic and transportation centers, Scandinavia’s historic places are all about commerce and settlement. For example, did you know that Scandinavia was one of the first settled communities north of Waupaca? Built in 1851, the Eliason log cabin was the first building in Scandinavia, and a year later, another family built the Knoph cabin; both still stand today in recognition of starting one of Wisconsin’s inaugural settlements. And if you’ve ever wanted to see what gas stations and barbershops used to look like, you’re in luck. The Silver Lake Service station was built in 1931 and operated for approximately 30 years, and Jole’s Barbershop operated from 1899 to 1958. All four historic buildings sit next to each other at Ellison Memorial Park after a 2006 moving project from their original locations.
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