Highways:
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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". Right: Highway 133's start in Tennyson coming off Highway 35 and U.S. 61. The Great River Road follows Highway 133 into Potosi. |  |
Beer is key in the history of Potosi (pop. 671), and is a key to its future. The National Brewery Museum and Library opened along Highway 133 just recently and offers tours every day (including Sundays) from 10am to 6pm. The Potosi Brewing Company busily brewed beer here from 1852 to 1972, and the former brewery's buildings were renovated for the museum, which also features a microbrewery, a restaurant with an outdoor beer garden and a gift shop.
 | You can't pass up the historical marker, right? Find out about Potosi's 1840s boom period and more here (click on picture for a larger view). |
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The National Brewery Museum and Potosi Brewing's resurrection
The newest cool thing in Potosi is the National Brewery Museum, which has resurrected the buildings that made up the Potosi Brewing Company for decades. The Museum conducted a national search for a location; candidates included Cincinnati, St. Louis and Milwaukee...but they chose little Potosi. Evidence of the Potosi Brewing Company is everywhere, including this tower (below) that resembles an old-fashioned beer can. Their main brand was known as "Good Old" Potosi Beer, which was brewed here for 120 years in its first incarnation.
Highway 133 serves as a long, long main street for Potosi. Past the downtown area and the National Brewery 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.
 | Highway 133 in Potosi winds and twists through town, gradually heading from the hilltops near Tennyson down to the Mississippi River. For the most part, it's the only street through town. |
The World's Longest Main Street is another claim to fame for Potosi. It is described as the longest Main Street without an intersection. While others will dispute that, hey, who are we to question it? It IS long. And a nice drive, too. It's a great vantage point for observing wildlife, since Potosi is perched on the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, part of the 261 mile-long stretch along the river that serves as home to countless waterfowl, fish and a huge variety of birds...including bald eagles. We'll cover more about that in Cassville.
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. Cassville is considered one of the best sites in the Midwest for viewing eagles, as this is a prime area for their migration. Cassville was originally settled in 1827 and was named after the Territorial Governor of the time, Lewis Cass (this was Michigan Territory at the time, by the way.) The fledgling burg threw its hat in the ring to become the capitol of Wisconsin Territory when it was first organized in 1836. While it failed in that regard, it attracted a new resident, Nelson Dewey. Drawn to Cassville from his native New York State, Dewey became Wisconsin's first Governor when it became a state in 1848. |
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 | In Potosi, you drop in elevation as you go down Main Street. On the 19-mile trek to Cassville, the bluffs make themselves known and you alternate between views of the Mississippi River and winding curves that go through forest and farmland. The hills in the distance in this photo are across the river in Iowa. There are some blind hills and curves on this stretch, so drive carefully! |
| Highway 133 is also the main street through Cassville, going through tree-lined neighborhoods abutting the Mississippi. You can catch the ferry just down from here, as well as the western terminus of Highway 81 downtown. |  |
Cassville is also known for the Cassville Car Ferry (608-725-5180), which makes the run from Cassville to Turkey Creek, Iowa. It's the only river crossing between Dubuque and Prairie du Chien, and still serves as the oldest operating ferry service in Wisconsin - Cassville has been served by a river ferry in some form or another since 1833. Click here for a schedule and fare information. Highway 133 provides access to the Cassville Car Ferry via Crawford Street.
  | Above Left: While waiting for the ferry, you can swing along the Mississippi. That thing to the left is labeled "Steamboat Mooring Ring", which I assume is either historical or people actually are running steamboats up and down the river still. Above Right: I caught this shot in the sunshine...I believe that is the Cassville Car Ferry. We'll come back and actually hop on it. Meanwhile, (left) there's the ramp for connecting with ferry and (right) apparently you can signal the ferry with this light. |
Cassville is also home to Stonefield, a 2,000 acre historic site that was once the country estate of the aforementioned Nelson Dewey. When the house was completed in 1868, one Wisconsin newspaper described it as "the showplace of Wisconsin with its beautiful green lawns, gardens and orchards, stables and other buildings, and miles of stone fences." The original home burned down in 1873, but it was rebuilt by General Walter Cass in the 1890s for his home, a building which still stands today. The land was acquired by the Wisconsin Conservation Commission in 1936, and the State designated the area a historic site in 1954. Today, it houses a cornucopia of historical treasures, including the State Agricultural Museum. Completed in 1971, the Museum houses Wisconsin's largest collection of farm tools, models and machinery detailing Wisconsin's agricultural history. There's also a railroad display and a recreated farming village. Check it all out in greater detail here.
Cassville is a powerful place, too: two significant power plants are located here, which provides both electricity and employment to the town. For recreation, relaxation, hiking or even camping, a great stop is Nelson Dewey State Park, which begins right across from Stonefield. The State Park covers 756 acres of Stonefield's original 2,000 and offers bird watching, picnicking and six hiking trails. You can also find various Indian mounds. The park is just north of Cassville; follow County Highway VV just off Highway 133 and it will take you right to it.
In downtown Cassville, you connect with Highway 81 which heads out to the county seat, Lancaster, as well as Platteville and points east. Highway 133, after a long trek southwest, west and northwest since Tennyson, begins heading north and northeast (part of the big "C" shape the entire route makes in its entirety) and winds through more bluffs and valleys through North Andover to Blooomington (pop. 701), where it meets up with Highway 35. Highway 133 joins 35 for several miles before arriving at U.S. Highway 18. While Highway 35 heads west with 18 towards Prairie du Chien, 133 joins U.S. 18 for the ride east, along the Military Ridge for about 7 miles before heading north again at Mount Hope.
We'll finish Highway 133 from Mount Hope to Lone Rock soon... keep checking back for updates!
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:
Cassville Car Cruise, Cassville, September 4, 2010
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Potosi interactive map View Larger Map |
