Alternative parking while using Iowa County Historical Society is behind the Floyd schoolhouse. Facing north on Hwy 23, at the lights, turn right onto the old highway now YZ. At the first driveway, turn right and go behind Mr. T’s. Aim for somewhere at the back of the schoolhouse.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
Click here for map
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.
- The Museum is located at 1301 N Bequette St., Dodgeville, WI (next to Mr. T’s gas station and across from Hardee’s)
- Our Mailing address is P.O. Box 44, Dodgeville, WI 53533
Photo by Neil Giffey
Society Museum
Iowa County Historical Society Services
- Historical Photo collections of life in Iowa County
- Obituary Files and cemetery records
- Family genealogy collections including oral histories
- Microfilm of Iowa County newspapers
- Artifacts and scrapbooks from Iowa County past
- Dodge Mining Camp Cabin (see Landmarks)
- Floyd School (see Landmarks)
- Archives of Iowa County surnames
- Reprints of Iowa County history books
Iowa County History Facts
From 1826 to 1830 there was a “great rush” of miners to the area. Lead mines dotted the county and furnished 75% of the U.S. needs for lead. Iowa County was formed in 1830 from Crawford county as part of Michigan Territory. In 1836 the Wisconsin Territory was created. As Wisconsin territory matured, other counties were carved out of Iowa County: namely Dane, Portage, Grant, Green, and Lafayette. In 1848 the Wisconsin became a state. Driven by the changes in county boundaries, the county seat was moved to Dodgeville in 1861, and is the site of Wisconsin’s oldest operating Courthouse. Around 1860, zinc became another mineral being mined.