Southern terminus: Grant County, at Highway 35 & U.S. Highway 61 in Tennyson

Northern terminus: Richland County, at Highway 60 & U.S. Highway 14 in Lone Rock

Mileage: about 92 miles

Counties along the way: Grant, Iowa, Richland

Sample towns along the way: Potosi, Cassville, North Andover, Bloomington, Boscobel, Muscoda, Lone Rock

Bypass alternates at: none

Quickie Summary: State “Trunk” Highway 133 twists and turns into a "c"-like arc around far southwestern Wisconsin. From one of the longest main streets you'll find anywhere to the state's only ferry service on the Mississippi to picturesque views along the other major river in the state, Highway 133 is a fun little Frito Scoop-shaped drive in one of Wisconsin's most beautiful areas.

The Drive (South to North): Highway 133 begins just outside of Tennyson, heading west from Highway 35 and U.S. Highway 61, the main north-south route through this part of the state. Almost immediately, you're on the main street through Potosi. Tennyson and Potosi often work in conjunction with each other and the area bills itself as the "Catfish Capital of Wisconsin".

Beer is key in the history of Potosi (pop. 671), and will be key to its future. The National Beer Museum, now under construction, is scheduled to open right along Highway 133 in Potosi in 2007. The Potosi Brewing Company busily brewed beer here from 1852 to 1972. The former brewery's buildings are being renovated for the museum, which will also feature a microbrewery,a restaurant with an outdoor beer garden and a gift shop (you knew there was a gift shop coming.)

The Petosi Brewing Company fell into decline, as seen in this picture from the late '90s. This is being transfored into the National Beer Museum, slated to open soon. Watch for the Potosi Grand Brewery Complex Opening on Monday, June 16th!

Highway 133 serves as a long, long main street for Potosi. Past the downtown area and the future museum, you pass St. John Mine. The mine was a natural cave worked by Native Americans and then European immigrants, both before and after the "Lead Rush" of 1827. The mine is named after Willis St, John, who made a small fortune in the first twenty years of the lead rush. Tours are available daily, and you can see stalactites (those icicle-looking rock things hanging down in caves) and realize that, whatever your working conditions are, you have it great compared to 19th century miners.

Ambling through Potosi for miles and miles, you descend towards the Mississippi River and then, shortly before reaching it, the road heads back inland a bit and parallels the river to Cassville (pop. 1,085), a pleasant yet remote burg on the Mississippi River.

Total Mileage: 92 miles
Average MPG in the Ford Escape Hybrid: (not officially "toured" yet)

South Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: Highway 35, U.S. Highway 61
Can connect nearby to: U.S. Highway 151, about 8 miles southeast

North Terminus:
Can connect immediately to: Highway 60, Highway 130, U.S. Highway 14
Can connect nearby to: Highway 23, about 7 miles east

Upcoming events in places along Highway 133:
Potosi Grand Brewery Complex Opening, Potosi, June 16, 2008

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