Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society

About Us

The Tripp Heritage Museum is a vibrant starting point for exploring the nature, culture, and heritage of the people, places, and natural wonders of the Sauk Prairie Area. Numerous exhibits and events throughout the year highlight the authentic story of this riverside community nestled between the Wisconsin River and bluff-ringed prairie, thirty minutes north of Madison, Wisconsin, twenty minutes south of the Wisconsin Dells.

Home to the one-of-a-kind Ochsner Collection of over three hundred mounted birds and specimens, the Tripp also houses a curious collection of Victorian hair art, and a 7,000-year-old Bison Occidentalis skull discovered by a 7-year-old boy in the riverbed near the Prairie du Sac Dam--the furthest east this ancient species has been found to-date.

The Tripp, named after its benefactor, J.S. Tripp, was originally constructed in 1912 as the Tripp Memorial Library. It served as home to the village offices and library for many decades and is now cared for by the Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society. The Society also manages two historic country churches: Our Lady of Loretto and Salem Ragatz Historic Church. Both churches are available for tours, weddings, and family gatherings.