Madison’s Hidden History: From Myth to Mystery

Schedule

Thu Sep 18 2025 at 05:00 pm to 06:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703-2808, United States | Madison, WI

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Beneath the neatly kept streets of Wisconsin’s capital, secrets and stories abound—go beyond the well-known facts, figures, spaces and places of Madison to learn about odd characters, mysterious happenings and macabre events. From hauntings and hijinks to magic and even murder, From Myth to Mystery takes tour-goers on a strange ride through Madison's lesser-known past. Stops along the way include local hauntings, the sites of stunts performed by famed magician Harry Houdini, the remains of Jeffrey Dahmer, a rumored mythical lake monster and much more.

COST
Adult (18-64): $20
Teen (13-17): $20
Senior (65+): $20
Children (5-12): $20
Children Under 5: Free
Advance registration required.
Society members receive a 10% discount, please verify your membership where prompted to receive discount at check out.
Book Tickets: https://wihist.org/3Ghc2CN

About the Location
An active, community-focused space that hosts school groups, pop-up exhibits, author talks, public programs and more; located in the US Bank Building on Madison's Capitol Square.
History Maker Space
1 S. Pinckney Street
Madison, WI 53703

Know Before You Go & Accessibility
This tour includes content that may not be suitable for participants under the age of 16. Please contact Jenny Pederson at [email protected] or (608) 669-5160 with any questions or for further information.
The tour will start in front of the U.S. Bank Plaza building, located at 1 S. Pinckney St., Madison, WI 53703. The end of the tour will return to the same location in front of U.S. Bank Plaza Building.
From start to finish, the tour covers approximately 1 mile, The tour route is paved but does include some hilly terrain. Bring appropriate walking attire. Wearing comfortable shoes are strongly recommended.
After arriving at the starting location and prior to the start of the tour, please check-in with a WHS staff member to confirm your tour reservation.
Tour participants are encouraged to bring water with them as the tour will be taking place outdoors and shade will vary.
Walking tours will happen rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather, consider bringing an umbrella.
There are public parking options available in downtown Madison.
There is a public parking garage, Capitol Square North Garage, located within two blocks of the tour’s starting location. In addition, there is street parking information on the City of Madison website.
Tour participants with questions about the tour content, or with mobility concerns are encouraged to contact Jenny Pederson at [email protected] or (608) 669-5160.

Contact
For more information, please contact the box office at 608-264-4848 or [email protected].
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Where is it happening?

1 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703-2808, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Wisconsin Historical Museum

Host or Publisher Wisconsin Historical Museum

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