Beautiful Watertown, Wisconsin is home to the historic Octagon House Museum. Museum grounds include the small frame building in which the first kindergarten class in America was held, a pioneer-era plank road barn, and a gift shop and tour center.
The Octagon House, five floors of solid brick construction completed in 1854, was designed and built by John Richards, an early Watertown settler. The house is one of Wisconsin's largest single family residences built before the Civil War.
Richards arrived in Watertown in the spring of 1837. Once here he became the first lawyer in Jefferson County, as well as the owner of several mills. In 1849, he married his sweetheart, the former Eliza Forbes. He promised to build her the finest home in the Wisconsin Territory if she would marry him.
The home's construction includes central heating, running water and ventilation systems. In addition to those "modern conveniences," the house features a central spiral staircase which rises from the first floor to the tower room.
The Richards family and their descendants lived in the home until 1937, when grandson William Thomas passed away. At that time the remaining family members were faced with what to do with the family home, which had become one of Watertown's most recognizable landmarks.
The Richards family offered to sell it to the city for $1, but opposition from the city council and several citizens prevented that from happening. The fledgling Watertown Historical Society then came forward and arranged to purchase the home from the Richards family on the condition that it always be used as a public museum.
Since 1938 the Octagon House has been open to the public.
The museum is open from May 1 to October 31. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. from May 1 to Memorial Day, then 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. through Oct. 31. Fully guided tours in the air conditioned museum are given on the hour. An admission ticket also includes a self-guided tour of the First Kindergarten in America building and the pioneer barn.
---------------
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1–May 28 open Saturday and Sunday 12-3 p.m., weekdays by appointment (closed Tues.)
May 29 (Memorial Day) through Sept. 4 (Labor Day) open 12-3 p.m. daily (closed Tues.)
Sept. 5–Oct. 31 open Saturday and Sunday, 12-3 p.m., weekdays by appointment (closed Tues.)
Tours are fully guided every hour on the hour in an air-conditioned museum.
ADMISSION
$9.00 for adults
$8.00 for senior citizens
and AAA members
$5.00 for children
6 to 17 years of age
School groups, 20 or more, $5.50 each
