Embracing History and Looking Forward

Walk along the streets Downtown and gaze at the historic buildings. Many are more than 100 years old and stand as a testament to the vision of those men and women who built this community.

Stroll along the Historic Second Street Corridor that stretches from Lake Menomin through the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Vintage street lights, hanging flower baskets in the summer, brick pavers and historic nodes will give you a sense of the cooperative effort between the university and City of Menomonie. The joint effort was completed in 1996. Enjoy the public art on campus and look at the historic buildings.

Menomonie's Historic Downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also designated as a local historic district.


Many of the first buildings along Main Street, Broadway and Crescent were simple wood frame structures. By 1900, many had been replaced by two or three-story brick buildings, often with ornate facades typical of the then-popular Italinate and Queen Anne styles.

Look up above the ground-level storefronts to see the original window trim and elaborate architectural details in metal and wood. Also look for locally-burned red brick and buff-colored Dunnville sandstone.



The Mabel Tainter Memorial Theater, built in 1889 as a memorial of the daughter of Captain Andrew and Bertha Tainter, is Downtown Menomonie's crown jewel.

The theater is a fully functional Victorian era theater with a year round performing arts season featuring nationally recognized artists.

The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a charter member of the League of Historic American Theatres, and a designated Wisconsin Historial Marker Site.