Fountain City Area Historical Society

07/25/2026

Buffalo County Historical Society Holds Its 37th Annual Backroads Tour

The Buffalo County Historical Society will host its 37th annual Backroads Tour on Saturday, August 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year, the tour features collections from the Alma Area Museum, Fountain City Historical Museum, Heritage Hall, and the Prairie Moon Sculpture and Museum.

The tour highlights some of the significant businesses and sites along State Highway 35 between Alma and Fountain City, whose histories are often untold.

The tour can be started in Alma or Fountain City. Each museum featured on the tour has its own unique collections. The Alma Historical Society has prepared a tour of Alma which can be walked or driven. The Prairie Moon Museum will be open, as well as its beautiful and unique sculpture garden. Heritage Hall, on Main Street in Alma, will be open.

The drive between the two cities highlights the history of some of the familiar businesses and sites along Highway 35. Tour booklets can be picked up at the Fountain City Historical Museum (7 S Main Street, Fountain City), Alma Area Museum (505 S 2nd Street, Alma), Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum (S2727 Prairie Moon Rd), and Heritage Hall (316 S Main Street, Alma).

This tour and the museums are open to the public and free of charge. For more information, contact the Buffalo County Historical Society at 608-685-6290 or email [email protected].

07/15/2026

The doors are opening once again.
We’re excited to welcome visitors to the historic Prairie Moon Dance Hall building for an Open House this Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Over the past several weeks, volunteers have been busy cleaning, organizing, and freshening the museum. If you’ve noticed the beautiful new siding outside, you’ll also appreciate the care that’s gone into the interior.
Step inside the building that once echoed with music and dancing before Herman Rusch transformed it into one of Wisconsin’s most unique public art sites. Whether it’s your first visit or your first in years, we hope you’ll enjoy rediscovering Prairie Moon.
📍 S2727 Prairie Moon Road
Cochrane, WI 54622
Additional open house dates will be announced soon.
Buffalo County Great River Road Wisconsin

The doors are opening once again.

We’re excited to welcome visitors to the historic Prairie Moon Dance Hall building for an Open House this Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Over the past several weeks, volunteers have been busy cleaning, organizing, and freshening the museum. If you’ve noticed the beautiful new siding outside, you’ll also appreciate the care that’s gone into the interior.

Step inside the building that once echoed with music and dancing before Herman Rusch transformed it into one of Wisconsin’s most unique public art sites. Whether it’s your first visit or your first in years, we hope you’ll enjoy rediscovering Prairie Moon.

📍 S2727 Prairie Moon Road
Cochrane, WI 54622

Additional open house dates will be announced soon.

Explore Buffalo County
Wisconsin Great River Road
Travel Wisconsin

06/26/2026

🚨 WANTED... YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY & FAVORITE TROUBLEMAKERS! 🚨

Have you always thought your spouse talks too much? Your boss deserves a timeout? Your best friend has been getting away with too many dad jokes? 😆

Now's your chance to make it official!

🎆 At the Buffalo City July 4th Celebration, you can purchase an "Arrest Warrant" for just $5 and have someone you know "locked up" in the historic Buffalo City Jail!

👮‍♀️ Warrants available: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Old Buffalo City Jail
💰 Bail will be set after the arrest.
⏰ All sentences must be served (or bailed out!) by 3:00 PM.

Best of all, every "crime" helps support the Mondovi, Alma, Fountain City, and Buffalo County Historical Societies.

So... who are YOU turning in? 🤔
(Tag them below if you dare! 😜)

⚠️ No real criminal record required—just a good sense of humor!

06/18/2026

06/14/2026

MEMERSHIP RENEWALS for 2026-2027 are now underway!

Attached you'll find our membership letter and renewal form. Your support helps us preserve the past, archive the present, and inspire the future. Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Fountain City Area Historical Society & Museum.

REMINDER: Please join us at the museum for our Annual Meeting & election of a new Board of Directors on Tuesday, June 16 at 1PM.

06/13/2026

YOU’RE INVITED: Annual Meeting of the Fountain City Area Historical Society & Museum 🏠⛲️🕰️

The Fountain City Area Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:00 PM at the museum, 7 S Main Street in Fountain City.

✨ STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. We are looking for new ideas, new energy, and new volunteers to carry the stories of Fountain City forward for the next generation. We welcome anyone with an interest in local history, preservation, education, and community involvement to attend.

🗳️ This meeting is especially important as members will elect a new Board of Directors to serve from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The board will include a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Member.

Whether you’re a longtime member, a newer supporter, or someone who has been curious about getting involved, now is the time!

05/29/2026

Congratulations to the finalists and winner of the Fountain City Area Historical Society Student Logo Design Competition.

Earlier this year, Cochrane - Fountain City School District students were invited to create logo concepts inspired by the Society’s new mission:

Preserving the Past. Archiving the Present. Inspiring the Future.

We were incredibly grateful to receive nearly 30 creative submissions ranging from hand-drawn artwork to digitally designed and AI-assisted concepts.

Following a public community vote, we are excited to congratulate this year’s finalists:

• Aubrey Patzner — Winning Design
• Easton Baures — Finalist
• Dustin Lee Grossell — Finalist

Thank you to every student who participated, as well as everyone who took the time to vote and support this project. We are excited to continue involving younger generations in preserving and celebrating Fountain City’s story for years to come.

05/28/2026

The Fountain City Area Historical Society is excited to partner with the Buffalo County Historical Society, Inc. for this year’s Buffalo City Fourth of July Parade & Celebration. 🇺🇸🎉

We have some fun ideas in the works for both the parade and our booth in the park, but we’re looking for community members who would like to help bring it all to life.

Whether you’d like to walk in the parade, help decorate the float, volunteer at the booth, or simply be part of representing Fountain City history and community spirit, we’d love to have you involved.

For America’s 250th year, this is shaping up to be one of the region’s biggest Fourth of July celebrations, and a great opportunity to showcase our community.

If you’d like to participate or learn more, send us a message.

Here is the event poster for our 250th year celebration!