Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Madison, Wisconsin · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Rail preservation groupFreeLibrary and Archives are free and open to the public; appointments recommended for archival requests

Collecting since 1846, the Wisconsin Historical Society keeps one of North America's most significant historical collections in Madison, including photographs, maps and records that rail historians draw on to trace the lines that once radiated from the capital.

  • Collecting since 1846
  • Library and Archives free to the public
  • Historic railroad photographs online
  • Wisconsin History Center opens 2028

Wisconsin Historical Society at a glance

Hours
Library and Archives open to the public; archival appointments Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, check current hours online
Admission
Library and Archives free; members get free admission to 12 historic sites
Plan for
1 to 3 hours for research
Best for
Researchers, rail historians and older students
Best ages
Ages 10 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Wisconsin Historical Society? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Madison.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Where Wisconsin keeps its railroad memory

The Wisconsin Historical Society has been collecting the state's stories since 1846, and it calls itself the oldest historical society in the United States to receive continuous public funding. Its headquarters on State Street in downtown Madison, a short walk from the Capitol on the UW-Madison campus, house the Society Library and Archives, which are free and open to the public.

For rail fans, the value is in the archives. The Society collects photographs, manuscripts, maps, sound recordings and government records, and its digital collections hold hundreds of thousands of images. At their peak, nine railroad lines radiated out of Madison, and a PBS Wisconsin program tracing their arrival and consolidation drew on imagery from the Society's archives alongside the collections of the Center for Railroad Photography and Art. There is no locomotive display here; the collection is paper, film and photographs, and it rewards curious visitors who come with a question.

Reading rooms, digital images and a history space

Visitors can use the Library and Archives in person or search the Society's catalog, finding aids and digital collections online before they come. The History Maker Space in Madison serves as the Society's central hub for exhibitions while the new Wisconsin History Center is built for a planned 2028 opening. Exhibits there change, so check the Society's website for what is on view.

Don’t miss

  1. Historic photographsThe digital collections hold hundreds of thousands of photographs and documents, searchable from home before you visit, with more added all the time.
  2. The Library and ArchivesFree and open to the public, with staff who can help you find maps, manuscripts and records.
  3. McCormick-International Harvester CollectionA major agricultural history collection that touches the farm economy Wisconsin's railroads served.

Best for curious older kids

This is a research collection rather than a hands-on museum, so it suits older children and teens working on a school project, such as a National History Day entry, more than toddlers. The Society also runs field trips and classroom programs, and younger train fans will get more from one of the Society's historic sites or a rail museum nearby.

Plan your visit: tips for Wisconsin Historical Society

  • Book an archives appointment ahead and send a complete list of the materials you want to see.
  • Search the online catalog and digital collections before you visit.
  • Library questions go to 608-264-6535; archives questions to 608-264-6460.

Supported by members across the state

The Society is publicly funded and supported by members. Memberships start at $60 a year for an individual and $125 for a family, with free admission to the Society's 12 historic sites and museums, a subscription to the Wisconsin Magazine of History and reciprocal benefits at more than 1,200 organizations for family levels and above. A reduced-cost Family Access membership is available for qualifying families, military members and teachers.

Rail stops near Madison

The Milwaukee Road Historical Association is about a mile away, and Little Amerricka's Whiskey River Railway in Marshall, about 18 miles out, offers a ride for younger kids. Steam fans can head about 36 miles to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. See all the Wisconsin train museums for more.

Every train museum in Wisconsin

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

When Rally gets ready for his trip in our book, he packs a turtle toy, a green bone and a yellow ball, the small things that matter to him. Archives like this one are full of what other people thought worth keeping: a ticket, a photo, a timetable. My mom's story idea was one of those things for our family, and I am glad we kept it. Our story page tells how it became a book.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Wisconsin Historical Society?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Wisconsin Historical Society rail research: 20 questions

Does the Wisconsin Historical Society have a railroad collection?

The Society does not run a separate railroad museum, but its Library and Archives in Madison hold photographs, manuscripts, maps and records that cover Wisconsin history, railroads included. Its digital collections hold hundreds of thousands of historic images, and rail historians have drawn on its archives for documentary work about Madison's railroads.

Where is the Wisconsin Historical Society headquarters?

The headquarters is at 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706, in downtown Madison just down the street from the State Capitol, in a building on the UW-Madison campus. It houses the Society Library and Archives. The same address is used for mail.

Is the Wisconsin Historical Society Library free to visit?

Yes. The Society says its Library and Archives at the Madison headquarters are free and open to the public. You do not need to be a member to research there. Some archival materials work best with an appointment, so contact staff ahead if you have a specific request.

What are the Wisconsin Historical Society Library and Archives hours?

As of October 2026, the Society lists appointment availability Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and recommends booking ahead with a full list of requested materials, since access depends on staff availability. Check the Plan Your Visit page on wisconsinhistory.org for current reading room hours.

How do I find railroad photos at the Wisconsin Historical Society?

Start with the Society's digital collections online, which hold hundreds of thousands of photographs, documents and other files, with more added regularly. Search by railroad name, town or depot. For items not yet online, contact the Archives at askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-264-6460.

Can I use Wisconsin Historical Society railroad images in a book or video?

The Society has a Digital Collections team that handles requests to use its images, videos and documents. Use the Contact Digital Collections option on the Society's contact page to ask about permissions and any fees before you publish or broadcast an image.

How many railroads served Madison, Wisconsin?

At their peak, nine railroad lines radiated out of Madison. A PBS Wisconsin program on the railroads of Madison and south central Wisconsin traced how those lines arrived, developed and consolidated, using imagery from the Wisconsin Historical Society's archives and the Center for Railroad Photography and Art.

Are there any railroad landmarks left in Madison?

A few large structures survive. According to the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, part of the old Chicago & North Western roundhouse, once home to Madison-based steam locomotives, still stands at the north end of the Wisconsin & Southern yard off Commercial Avenue, now used by a property management company.

Does the Wisconsin Historical Society have locomotives on display?

No locomotives are on display at the Madison headquarters. The Society's railroad material is in its Library and Archives as photographs, records and documents. To see real trains near Madison, visit the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom or ride Little Amerricka's Whiskey River Railway in Marshall.

Is the Wisconsin Historical Society good for kids who love trains?

It is best for older kids with a project, such as a school report or a National History Day entry, who want to look at old photographs and maps. Younger train fans will enjoy a rail museum more. The Society also offers field trips and classroom resources for teachers.

What is the History Maker Space in Madison?

The History Maker Space is the Society's central hub for exhibitions in Madison while the new Wisconsin History Center is in development. Exhibits rotate, so check wisconsinhistory.org to see what is on view and whether any current displays touch on transportation or railroads.

When does the Wisconsin History Center open?

The Society plans a grand opening of the Wisconsin History Center in 2028. It is designed as a major cultural destination with exhibits, community gathering spaces and interactive experiences about the people who shaped Wisconsin. Watch the Society's website for opening news and exhibit plans.

How much is a Wisconsin Historical Society membership?

As of October 2026, an individual membership is $60 a year, dual $85, family $125 and Family+ $185. All levels include free admission to the Society's 12 historic sites and museums, the Wisconsin Magazine of History and a 10 percent discount on merchandise and ticketed events. Family levels add reciprocal benefits.

Is there a discounted Wisconsin Historical Society membership?

Yes. The Family Access membership is a reduced-cost option for families who take part in public assistance programs, for members of the military and for teachers. The Society's membership page has a tool to see if you qualify, or you can email membership@wisconsinhistory.org.

Can genealogy groups tour the Wisconsin Historical Society Library?

Yes. Groups coming to Madison for a day of research can contact Ask Library to schedule a tour of the Library and Archives, including an overview of the genealogy collections and amenities. Email asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org or call 608-264-6535 to arrange it.

How do I contact the Wisconsin Historical Society Archives?

Email askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org or call the Archives at 608-264-6460. For library materials, use asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-264-6535, and for questions about historic objects, write to askobjects@wisconsinhistory.org. Mail goes to 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706. Including the railroad, town and years you are researching helps staff point you to the right collections quickly.

Can I donate railroad items to the Wisconsin Historical Society?

The Society accepts donations to its collections through a defined collecting process. Its contact page has a Donate to the Society's Collections section that explains how to offer an item. Railroad photographs, timetables or company records with a Wisconsin connection would go through that review.

Does the Wisconsin Historical Society have research centers outside Madison?

Yes. The Society has 14 Area Research Centers around the state that provide access to historical public records, manuscripts and research help. They are handy if you are researching a local railroad or depot and live far from Madison. The Society's website lists the locations.

Does the Wisconsin Historical Society help preserve old depots?

The Society is Wisconsin's State Historic Preservation Office. It works with communities, organizations and individuals to identify and preserve historic places, manages the State and National Registers of Historic Places in Wisconsin, and helps with tax credits for historic buildings, which can include railroad depots.

What train museums are near Madison, Wisconsin?

The Milwaukee Road Historical Association is about a mile from the Society. Little Amerricka's Whiskey River Railway in Marshall is about 18 miles away, the Brodhead Depot Museum about 32 miles, and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom about 36 miles. The Wisconsin Dells railways are about 44 to 46 miles.

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