Tips, leads, stories from travelers, plus Roadsideamerica.com Team reports on quirky museums, ironic monuments, and must-see oddities! Trip planning caution: Some tips may not be verified. Over time, attractions change, move, burn down. What's a vacation without a little risk? Submit your own tip.
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Platteville, Wisconsin - Big Letter "M" Originally built in 1937, the world's largest man-made "M" can be seen for miles
around southwestern Wisconsin, and even as far away as Illinois and Iowa (which are both about 20
miles west).
Made of stones whitewashed every year by students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the Big M is truly an amazing sight to drivers along U. S. Highway 151. It is over 200 feet wide and almost 250 feet tall. Unbelievably, there are smaller man-made "M"s in at least two locations -- Monona, Wisconsin and Golden, Colorado.
Twice a year, in the spring for the annual "M-Ball", and in the fall for Homecoming, the "M" is set afire and the blazing 13th letter can be seen as far away as Dubuque, Iowa. Actually, the whitewashed "M" itself is not lit. Smudge-pots are placed around the "M" and those are lit from a torch carried four miles by a runner from the University. No, the "M" doesn't stand for Platteville. It is actually a symbol of the old School of Mines. [Callen Harty, 09/23/2000]
Big Letter "M":
Address: Platteville, WI
Directions: The Big M can be viewed from U. S. Highway 151, the main highway that runs through the city, as well as other highways in the area. It is actually located on County Highway B, between Platteville and Belmont, just a short distance from Wisconsin's first territorial capital.
Platteville, Wisconsin - Mining Museum, Rollo Jamison Museum In the little town of Platteville, WI, I found a mining museum. It's a former lead mine from 1845. There are displays inside the museum, an old mine train outside you can ride on, and they'll outfit you with your own hard hat and take you down inside the mine itself (Be prepared - there's 90 steps to get down there and back!). It's a pretty big mine, and feels wonderful in the heat of summer.
Also nearby is the Rollo Jamison museum, a neat little collection of goodies such as musical instruments, farm implements, a marble cash register, juke boxes, and my personal favorite - taxidermy boxing squirrels!
All in all, it's a pretty neat place to kill a couple hours if you're in Southwestern Wisconsin! [Christine L. Tuohy, 04/25/2007]
Mining Museum, Rollo Jamison Museum:
Address: 405 East Main Street, Platteville, WI
Directions: City of Platteville Museum Department
Admission: Adult $8, Seniors $7, Child 5-15 $4, under 5 free.
Hours: Daily 9-5 May - Oct. (Call to verify)
Phone: 608-348-3301
