Secret Wisconsin

by Tom Manus, Kristi Manus

Wisconsin is known for its outdoor recreation, supper clubs, and being “America’s Dairyland,” but intriguing wonders and obscure events lie hidden in plain sight. Why does a temporary circus billboard from 1885 still exist on a building? Did someone really exchange water with aliens for extraterrestrial pancakes? Where can you honor deceased postal letter carriers? Have you been eating brats the wrong way? Secret A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, takes you on an unforgettable trip to discover the state’s quirkiness and some of its best kept secrets. Find out where famous people secretly get turkeys in the basement and where Al Capone let floatplanes land with his illegal booze before he shipped it by truck to Chicago. Learn about the state’s two Walls of China and the place where gravity can pull your vehicle uphill. Discover why JFK made a deposit in Spooner or how Teddy Roosevelt’s long speech saved his life from an attempted assassination. From donuts to whitefish livers, find out where Wisconsin delicacies hide. Local authors Tom and Kristi Flick Manus love uncovering stories that must be told. They are passionate about finding Wisconsin’s out-of-the-ordinary, hidden, and quirky side and then sharing them with you.

Genres: Travel

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2023

Reviews

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This makes me want to hop in my car and zig-zag the state visiting these places!

As a life long resident of Wisconsin a few of these places were familiar to me, but to my surprise A LOT of these I had never heard of before and I think that’s the beauty of this is it’s chock full of wonderful and weird places off the beaten paths.

My only complaint is I wish it had been longer!

[Kimberly Hallahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a terrific guide to some unique aspects of Wisconsin. We've visited Kohler and the other Great Wall of China. I was very impressed by the Kohler factory tour. I bookmarked five other places that would like to visit.