4718 Monona Drive (eastern outskirts of Madison)

Madison, Wisconsin

608-222-5783.
A pre-Civil War brick home, restored in 1972 and furnished with 19th-century amenities. The Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society maintains the house as a living museum to support the study of the Wisconsin farm family during the Victorian Age. Scheduled events are primarily reenactments of the daily routines and significant occasions of the family, ranging from laundry days to holiday celebrations. Free guided tours every other Sunday afternoon (donations accepted).

Elvehjem Museum of Art

800 University Ave., Madison. 

608-263-2246.
Created to house, exhibit and study the art collection of the University of Wisconsin. Some decorative objects date to 2300 BC, and its print collection is considered one of the finest in the nation. Musicians play in one of the galleries on Sunday afternoon October-May. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am-5 pm. self-guided audio tour. Free guided tours Thursday at 12:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Madison Art Center

211 State St., Madison.

 608-257-0158.
This nonprofit museum, located on the UW campus, exhibits contemporary art by both well-known and emerging artists. It sponsors two popular events: the Art Fair on the Square in July and the Holiday Art Fair in November. Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-5 pm, Friday 11 am-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm. Free.

Madison Children's Museum

100 State St., Madison

608-256-6445
A UW-area museum filled with entertaining hands-on activities, many involving art, for children of all ages. Special activities every weekend. Memorial Day-Labor Day daily 9 am-4 pm, Labor Day-Memorial Day Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-4 pm

State Historical Museum

30 N. Carroll St., Madison. 

608-264-6555.
Artifacts, dioramas, audiovisual presentations and illustrations about Wisconsin's history. Exhibits are on the three upper floors, while the gift shop, which has an excellent selection of books, regional arts, cards and souvenirs, is located on the first floor. Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. Admission is by donation.

UW Geology Museum

1215 W. Dayton (on the UW campus), Madison

 608-262-2399.
Within walking distance of State Street's "Museum Mile" is Weeks Hall, where displays of minerals, rocks, fossils, dinosaur bones and a mastodon might interest children. They can examine the Earth with a large rotating globe and walk through a model of a Wisconsin limestone cave. Call to arrange a tour for a school or community group. Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Saturday 9 am-1 pm. Free.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum

30 W. Mifflin St. (on Capitol Square), Madison. 

608-267-1799

Year-round Monday-Saturday 9 am-4:30 pm; April-September also open Sunday noon-4 pm.

Powerful dioramas tell tales of Wisconsin veterans in combat from the Civil War to modern times. One of the paintings in its collection is a portrait of a man said to be the red-haired grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Exhibits include three aircraft (including a World War I biplane) suspended from the ceiling and 16 scale models of 19th- and 20th-century ships (including the USS Wisconsin). Children can look through a submarine periscope that protrudes through the gallery roof for a bird's-eye view of downtown.