Travel Back in Time to Mineral Point

Mineral Point, located in the southwest corner of the state, is chock full of history and the digital collection from Mineral Point Public Library is as well. The Mineral Point Library Archives started as the “Mineral Point Roots Cellar” in 1981 when Robert Neal donated his collection of local history materials to the Mineral Point Public Library. It has been added to by local families and others interested in the early days of Mineral Point and documents the history of Mineral Point with photographs of buildings no longer standing, streets before widening, and homes before renovation.

Man perched on Mineral Point highway sign
Man perched on Mineral Point highway sign, Mineral Point Public Library.
Trelawney and Pendarvis house on Shake Rag street. Undated.
Trelawney and Pendarvis house with the Thomas Kinsman house visible at right; the Kinsman house was later removed. Undated. Mineral Point Public Library.
Looking west on High Street from chimney of Public Service Plant, 1914.
Looking west on High Street from chimney of Public Service Plant, 1914. Mineral Point Public Library.
Bob James drives his horse drawn wagon down High Street in Mineral Point; note on back of photograph: Bob James, West end of High Street north side. Undated.
Bob James drives his horse drawn wagon down High Street in Mineral Point; note on back of photograph: Bob James, West end of High Street north side. Undated. Mineral Point Public Library.
View of Mineral Point, 1864
View of Mineral Point, 1864. One of the oldest photographs in the Mineral Point Library Archives’ collection, its date was determined by verifying the dates of construction of various buildings visible in the image. Mineral Point Public Library.
119 and 117 Jail Alley
119 and 117 Jail Alley. A. H. Burns house and James Kinney house. Undated. Mineral Point Public Library.
Hotel Rasmussen on the corner of Commerce and Fountain Streets
View of Commerce Street to the south. Hotel Rasmussen building at the right, Zinc Works visible in distance. Undated. Mineral Point Public Library.
Shake Rag - Commerce Street Intersection; Five Points Corner
Shake Rag – Commerce Street Intersection; Five Points. Corner Note on back of photograph: “A Cornish Miner’s House at Mineral Point. House torn down for Hwy 23 to Darlington. Mineral Point Public Library.
Riders in front of Indian Motorcycle shop, Shake Rag Street, Mineral Point
Riders in front of Indian Motorcycle shop, Shake Rag Street, Mineral Point. Mineral Point Public Library.