Elkhorn, Wisconsin - Watson's Wild West Museum - 2,000 Branding Irons

Step back in time to the American West at this bizarre yet family-friendly museum outside of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Activities include panning for gold at the Tumbleweed Mine, roping demonstrations, historical tall tales from host Doug Watson, Dr. Quiggley's Medicine Show, cowboy poetry, humor, historical perspective of those times and events, and the thoughts of Will Rogers. Kids can even "belly up to the bar" for a cold Sarsaparilla.

The General Store is surrounded by cowboy artifacts of the 1880's -- High Back Saddles, Chaps, Spurs, Branding Irons, Firearms, Holsters, and Mounted Game of Buffalo, Elk, Moose, Bear, Wolf, and Mountain Lion. [Jonathan Blaque, 05/17/2005]

Watson's Wild West Museum in Elkhorn, a replica of an 1880s general store, features thousands of artifacts and memorabilia from the cowboy era. The treasures at Watson's include authentic 1800s firearms and artifacts, ornate spurs and clothing, unopened 100-year-old plug-tobacco pouches, more than 2,000 branding irons, 115 saddles and mounted buffalo, elk and deer heads. In the bathroom, the wallpaper is made of "wanted" posters, traveling show ads and newspaper clippings. Kids can search for gold at the Tumbleweed Mine. [Jennifer Schmitt, 05/20/2001]