Halloween traditions and hair-raising tales come alive at Black Point Estate & Gardens, Old World Wisconsin, Stonefield, Wade House and on two History Maker Space walking tours

 MADISON, Wis. – From eerie lantern-lit hikes to spine-tingling stories in a Victorian mansion, the Wisconsin Historical Society brings Halloween to life at five historic venues across the state. This fall, thrill-seekers and history lovers alike can immerse themselves in folklore tales and mysterious legends. Step into the world of Edgar Allan Poe during an evening at Black Point Estate & Gardens, take a lantern-lit foray into the woods in search of the mythical Hodag at Old World Wisconsin, or enjoy family-friendly fun with tricks and treats at Stonefield and Wade House. In Madison, two specially curated walking tours will uncover the city’s most chilling tales and haunted secrets.

Black Point Estate & Gardens, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

A House Dressed in Mourning. From Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, “Echoes of Mourning: A Victorian Farewell” will be presented at Black Point Estate & Gardens. Guided by knowledgeable docents, guests will step back in time and discover the customs and rituals that shaped this solemn period. Visitors will view period artifacts and learn about the intricate mourning traditions of the Victorian era. This special program is included with general admission and is offered Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays during two sessions: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Roundtrip boat transportation is provided by Lake Geneva Cruise Line. The cost is $53 for adults, $51 for seniors, $37 for youth (age 13-17), $33 for children (ages 4-12) and $2 for infants (3 and under).  Advance registration is required. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive a discount.

Take a Sunset Cruise to “Poe at the Point.” There’s nothing quite as chilling as Edgar Allen Poe’s stories. From Oct. 16 to 18, Black Point Estate & Gardens will present “Poe at the Point.” A rare nighttime cruise will whisk guests across Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva to the 1888 lakeside mansion, once the home of Chicago Beer Baron Conrad Seipp. Noted Poe historian and author Joshua Dubbert will read some of the author’s most sinister tales. The event, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., includes roundtrip boat transportation by Lake Geneva Cruise Line, a first-floor tour of Black Point Estate, and a 45-minute captivating reading of “The Tell-Tale-Heart,” “The Raven” and “The Mask of the Red Death” in the home’s parlor. Guests will return by boat following the tour and reading. The cost is $68 for adults and seniors and $49 for youth (age 13-17). Advance registration is required.

Enter the World of Victorian Spiritualism. Indulge in a rare opportunity to visit Black Point Estate after dark for an evening devoted to Victorian Spiritualism, a trend that surged in the mid-to-late 1800s. Set in the home’s dining room, Black Point Estate Site Director Dave Desimone, an authority on the topic, will discuss the Victorian’s obsession with death and communicating with the departed. Guests can enjoy a cordial and hear tales of the Fox sisters, credited with founding the spiritualist movement in America, and learn about Wisconsin’s connection to the movement including Whitewater’s Morris Pratt Institute, the country’s first spiritualist school. The event, available to just 13 guests per evening, will be held on Friday, Oct. 3, 10 and 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $75 per person and advance registration is required. 

Hear Tales of Sea Serpents, Flying Saucers and Gangsters. In July 1892, a sea serpent sighting was reported in Geneva Lake. This tale and more are explored in “Sordid and Scandalous: A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva.” Knowledgeable historians from Black Point Estate & Gardens will recount stories of bank robberies, riots, prohibition-era gangsters, sea serpents, flying saucers and scandals. The walking tour, available Oct. 4, 11 and 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is priced at $15 per person. Advance registration is required.

For further information, visit blackpointestate.org

Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, Wisconsin

Step Into a Post-Prohibition Costume Party Where All is Not What it Seems. Journey back to the 1930s and arrive at Wittnebel’s, a rural Wisconsin tavern steeped in mystery. Raise a glass to “Happy Days”—but keep an eye out for the shadowy characters said to frequent remote watering holes. At Old World Wisconsin’s annual “Halloween Legends & Lore,” folk tales and legends of elusive figures and creatures come alive across three Halloween-themed weekends. Held at the 600-acre living history attraction, the event invites guests to explore a lantern-lit Crossroads Village, where performances and legendary characters from another era await at every turn. With a map in hand, guests wind through historic spaces: witnessing a Victorian séance, sitting in on the courtroom drama of the Beast of Bray Road, or enjoying silent black-and-white films. Gather around the campfire for spine-tingling stories, take an “eyes wide open” moonlit stroll or watch the immigrant tales of “Baba Yaga” and “St. Dunstan and the Devil” unfold. This spook-tacular Friday and Saturday evening event runs Oct. 10–11, 17–18, and 24–25 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Seasonal food and drinks will be available for purchase. A gift shop offers a treasure trove of unique themed gifts and guests are encouraged to wear maskless costumes. The cost to attend this event is $22 per person, $20 for seniors (65+), $17 for children 5-12 and free for children under five. The event is sponsored by Old World Foundation and Waterstone Bank.

To book tickets, click here.

For further information, go to oldworldwisconsin.org

Stonefield, Cassville, Wisconsin

Discover Haunts in a Historic Farming Village. Trick-or-Treat through the shops and country stores of Stonefield Village, a historic site celebrating Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage, during this special family-friendly Halloween event for all ages. Bring a flashlight, treat bucket and meet a few ghostly figures while journeying through this historic enclave. Held on Saturday, Oct. 18, “Light Fright” for younger children is from 2:30 to 6 p.m., and from 6 to 7:30 p.m., more ghoulish, spine-tingling characters emerge. The cost is $5 per person and tickets can be purchased on-site upon arrival.

To book tickets, click here.

For further information, go to stonefield.wisconsinhistory.org

Wade House, Greenbush, Wisconsin

Revel in the Joys of Autumn. Time honored fall traditions come alive at the beautiful Wade House Stagecoach Inn, where kids and adults gather for one weekend each year to celebrate the spirit of the season. This October, step back in time during the Wade House's "Autumn Celebration Weekend" on October 11 and 12. Set amid the stunning Kettle Moraine Forest, the 27-room Wade House Stagecoach Inn will host two days of family-friendly fun. Enjoy hands-on activities like apple pressing and the traditional game of Snap Apple. Listen to slightly spooky stories told by candlelight at the water-powered Herrling Sawmill and sip on hot apple cider in the stagecoach inn. Guests can also take horse-drawn wagon rides to and from the Visitor Center, home to the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, where fall treats such as apple pie and pumpkin bars will be available for purchase.

Back by popular demand: the Fall Color Stagecoach Saturday Ride on October 11. For a small additional fee, guests can take a 30-minute ride through the Wade House countryside, admiring the spectacular fall foliage while experiencing what a slow-paced stagecoach journey once felt like.

The cost is $15 per person, $13 for seniors (65 and up), $10 for children 5-12 and free for children under five. Tickets are sold onsite and can also be booked online.

To book tickets, click here.

For further information, go to wadehouse.org

History Maker Space, Madison, Wisconsin

Madison’s Hidden History: From Myth to Mystery Walking Tour

Discover the Not-So-Typical History of Madison. For those intrigued by Madison-area hauntings, eerie figures, and well-known names—from Harry Houdini to the remains of Jeffrey Dahmer and even a rumored mythical lake monster—this experience promises unexpected tales. As the group traverses Madison’s city center, a guide will recount stories from the past, filled with murder, mystery, eccentric personalities, magic and more. Expect to hear about quirky figures like Eddie Ben Benson, a man who once campaigned for local office on a unique platform, or the tale of one Wisconsin Governor’s phantom arm. The tour, taking place Sept. 18 and 20 and Oct. 23 and 25, begins and ends at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Maker Space in U.S. Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pinckney Street and covers approximately one mile. The cost to attend this event is $20 per person.

 To book this tour, click here.

Madison Misdeeds: A True Crime Walking Tour

Step Into the World of Bootleggers, Bank Robbers, Killers & More. From the 1840s through the 1970s, Wisconsin’s capital was home to a surprising and unique underworld of bootleggers, bank robbers and even killers who left their malevolent mark on Madison. Hear historic tales of backroom deals, gambling dens, daring heists, holdups and cold-blooded murders while walking the downtown streets where these misdeeds unfolded. The tour, taking place Oct. 16, 18 and 30, begins and ends at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Maker Space in U.S. Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pinckney Street and covers approximately one mile. Recommended for ages 13 and above. The cost to attend this event is $20 per person.

To book this tour, click here.

For further information, go to wisconsinhistory.org

Bonus: Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to sites with a 10% discount on special events and experiences in addition to a subscription to the Wisconsin Magazine of History, a 10% discount on Society store purchases, and a subscription to Columns, the Society member newsletter. Annual individual and family memberships range from $65 to $500, including memberships with reciprocal NARM (National American Reciprocal Museum Agreement) benefits, an organization consisting of 1,200 cultural institutions in more than six countries. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org/membership.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

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