Explore History
In Sun Prairie, we’re fortunate to have many residents and vistors who are passionate about the history, people, and places that make our community unique. By working collaboratively, each organization can bring share their resources and skills to ensure that current and future generations continue to celebrate our community’s rich heritage.
Together, we make history happen.
-
Sun Prairie Historical Society
You are currently visiting our website. We are a nonprofit comprised entirely by volunteers who love sharing history with our community. We focus on offering historical programs and and providing an affordable community event space at the Crosse House in the heart of historic downtown Sun Prairie.
-
Wisconsin Historical Society
We’re an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Historical Society, which allows access to resources, grants, and professional development opportunities. This affiliation connects our local history efforts with the state's premier historical organization, enhancing our ability to share Sun Prairie history.
-
Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum
The City of Sun Prairie’s Historical Library & Museum houses all physical and digital history collections. You can visit their neighboring historic building for a journey through local history. While our names are similar, we are two separate groups working to promote history.
The Crosse House
The Crosse House, built circa 1864, is a well-maintained example of Gothic Revival architecture with distinctive bargeboard adorning the roof gable and ornamental details around the veranda porch. Dr. Charles Giles Crosse, a Civil War surgeon and early Sun Prairie leader who established the city's first public high school, lived here with his family from 1866 until 1916.
Dr. Crosse served as village president and on the board of trustees, playing a key role in establishing Sun Prairie's first public high school in 1882. He and his wife Rowena raised their three children in the home until it was sold in 1916.
When the property was later acquired by the Sun Prairie Water and Light Commission in 1973 as a site for a modern office, local citizens formed the non-profit Sun Prairie Historical Restorations Inc. to preserve the home as a historic city landmark. Through an agreement with SPWL, the house was moved intact to a new foundation approximately 75 feet west of its original location and fully restored to its 1860s state.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, the house now serves as the home of the Sun Prairie Historical Society.
-
![Black and white portrait of a man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a dark suit.]()
1860
MEDICAL PIONEER
Dr. Charles G. Crosse moves to Sun Prairie, establishing a medical practice and drugstore. -
![A black-and-white photo of a Victorian-style house with a front porch, a picket fence, and a woman standing on the porch. The house has decorative trim and a steep gabled roof.]()
c. 1864
HOME BUILT
Dr. Crosse builds his home following
his return from Civil War service. -
![Six people standing around a table with papers and books in a room with a window and a clock on the wall.]()
1877
PRESS FOUNDED
Dr. Crosse and his son establish Sun Prairie's first newspaper, The Countryman. -
![A vintage black-and-white photo of the interior of an old-fashioned pharmacy or drugstore, with shelves stocked with bottles and jars, a counter with glass display cases, and a woman behind the counter preparing medication.]()
1893
BUSINESS GROWS
Dr. Crosse builds the Crosse Block, moving his drug business to this new location.
-
![Gravestone with the inscription 'C. G. Cross, M. D. 1826-1908', surrounded by green grass and small white flowers.]()
1908
CROSSE PASSES
Dr. Charles G. Crosse passes away. He is buried in the Sun Prairie Cemetery.
-
![A gold-colored plaque mounted on a gray wall indicating that the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior, circa 1866. Below the plaque are house numbers '133' with some of the paint chipped off.]()
1993
HISTORIC REGISTRY
The Crosse House was officially listed on National Register of Historic Places. -
![Black and white photo of construction workers working on a building foundation in front of a house with a porch. Two workers are in the foreground, one smiling and wearing a hat, the other with a hat and glasses. A third worker is in the background, bent over, working on the ground.]()
1999
HOUSE MOVED
Structure relocated 75 feet west to preserve it during utility expansion.
Georgia O'Keeffe's Birthplace
Georgia O'Keeffe, one of America's most celebrated artists, was born in rural Sun Prairie site in 1887 and spent her childhood exploring the Wisconsin countryside that would influence her iconic paintings. Growing up in a progressive household where her mother encouraged female independence, young Georgia's artistic awakening began here through encounters with nature.
Discover the landscapes and experiences that shaped one of America's greatest artists by exploring Georgia O'Keeffe's Formative World, a comprehensive Clio tour created by the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum. This immersive journey takes you through the rural Wisconsin setting where O'Keeffe's artistic vision first took root, revealing how her childhood home, family influences, and the prairie environment contributed to her legendary career.
Historical Sites
-
![A historic black and white photograph of the 42-Went Tower in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, featuring a tall water tower with a cylindrical dark top and a lighter brick base, surrounded by trees and houses.]()
Sun Prairie Water Tower
Sun Prairie's Water Tower, built in 1899 from salvaged limestone and standing 60 feet tall, served the community for nearly a century and now stands as a National Register landmark.
-
![Historical black-and-white photo of Main Street in Puxico, Wisconsin, with vintage cars and people walking or sitting on benches. Buildings with signs, including a harness shop and a garage, line both sides of the street. A clock tower is visible in the background, and trees are present alongside the sidewalk.]()
Old City Hall
A 1895 Romanesque revival, Old City Hall, featuring a 65-foot bell tower and second-floor auditorium, served as the municipal center until 1956 and has been restored following damage from a gas explosion in 2018.
-
![A black and white photograph of a vintage town street with a storefront. In the foreground, there is a large chicken-shaped sign with an egg in its body, placed on the sidewalk. The store's windows display signs advertising eggs, butter, and dairy products, and there are large sacks outside the store.]()
Cannery Square
Cannery Square transformed from Sun Prairie's 20th-century industrial hub of canning and porcelain manufacturing into today's vibrant downtown destination for dining, shopping, and community life.
-
![]()
Angell Park Speedway
Angell Park Speedway, donated in 1903 and operated by the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, has evolved from horse racing to become one of the Midwest's premier dirt tracks.
-
![A young man operating and assembling machinery in an industrial workshop.]()
Sun Prairie Canning Company
The Sun Prairie Canning Company operated from 1900-2000 as a major local employer before transforming into the Nitty Gritty restaurant, preserving the historic industrial architecture.
-
![Black and white photo of a brick church with arched windows and a sign that reads "Forester Wall." The church has stairs leading to the entrance and is surrounded by trees.]()
Forester Hall
DescripThe 1868 Methodist Episcopal Church served Sun Prairie for nearly 100 years before becoming the Catholic Order of Foresters hall and is now home to Faded Roots Boutique.
The Groundhog Capital of the World
For over 75 years, Sun Prairie has proudly proclaimed itself "The Groundhog Capital of the World," a tradition that began in 1948 when a creative postcard artist chose the city because "the groundhog sees his shadow when the sun comes up on the prairie." What started as a Wisconsin centennial commemoration evolved into a beloved community celebration complete with live groundhogs, congressional declarations, and good-natured rivalry with Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, establishing Sun Prairie's unique place in American folklore and attracting media attention from across the country every February 2nd.