Culture passes: The secret to visiting Wisconsin attractions for free

Available through local Wisconsin libraries, culture passes grant you free access to numerous state attractions. Here’s what you need to know.

One of the advantages of living in Wisconsin is the opportunity to visit numerous historical sites and museums at no cost. The easiest way to go about using this benefit is by picking up culture passes at your local library, or through several larger locations found throughout the state, like the Madison Public Library. You can also request some culture passes online, which I’ll go over with you in a separate section.

In some instances, like state park visits, you may need to pay for parking or a similar entry fee, but that will all depend on the policies in place at each site. Don’t worry though, I’ll explain everything in as much detail as possible to save you time (and money!) as you plan your next free, family-friendly adventure.

Lake Geneva Public Library 

For Wisconsin residents who hold a Lake Geneva Public Library card, the world—erm, state—is your oyster. Multiple culture passes (or experience passes, as the library calls them) are available through the circulation desk, which means you’ll have to go in person to pick them up. In a minute, I’ll explain how you can request certain passes at other locations, but for now, let’s chat about what you can get for free through Lake Geneva.

Day passes to Wisconsin’s state parks are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The pass admits all occupants of one vehicle into the park for free. For more information and to reserve your pass, speak with an employee at the circulation desk. Click here to find a park, trail, or forest to visit after you’ve picked up your pass.

The Wisconsin Historical Society pass admits two adults, along with all children under the age of 18 from the same household, to all historical sites found throughout the state. There’s a separate section on how to gain free admission to these locations through the Wisconsin Historical Society directly, so you can scroll there now if you want to bypass having to pick up your culture passes at the Lake Geneva Public Library circulation desk. For more information on what the library’s pass gets you, click here.

Finally, you can grab passes to the Mitchell Park Domes at this location, which will admit two adults and any children under the age of 18 from the same household to the American Horticultural Society botanical gardens, as well as the Mitchell Park Domes. These can be requested at the circulation desk. You’ll need to check out the passes with a valid library card. Learn more here.

How to request a Museum Adventure Pass 

Museum Adventure Passes can also be requested at the Lake Geneva Public Library. However, if you don’t live nearby, you can request one at your nearest library, which I’ll guide you through how to do now. These passes grant you admission to around 24 different attractions in Wisconsin and Illinois, including popular museums and zoos.

To start, visit the Museum Adventure Pass website and search for your nearest library. Select the distance you’re willing to travel (for example, up to 25 miles), then type in your city or zip code to narrow down the options. Once you type in that information, click the magnifying glass button. This takes you to another page that lists nearby libraries and museums where you can pick up your free Museum Adventure Pass.

After you have found the right location and read through all the necessary rules, visit or call your library to check out a Museum Adventure Pass. You need a valid library card to receive these culture passes, so if you don’t already have one, that’s going to be the first step in the process for you. Obtaining a library card is a fairly straightforward process. You’ll need to bring an ID and proof of address to your local library, and they’ll help you complete the process from there.

In terms of the Museum Adventure Pass, after you’ve checked it out, all you need to do is figure out which of the participating museums and zoos you want to visit and stick to any restrictions that may apply. Your local librarian can help you sort through these details.

How to get free admission to Wisconsin Historic Sites

The Menomonee Falls Historical Society and Public Library offer the Wisconsin Historical Sites Explore Pass to anyone who wishes to visit the state’s historic sites for free. You’ll need to visit or contact the Menomonee Public Library directly (click here to learn how to do that) for additional details on how to reserve the passes.

With the Wisconsin Historical Sites Explore Pass, you get free admission to the following 12 locations: Madeline Island Museum, Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Museum, First Capitol, Reed School, Wade House, Black Point Estate and Gardens, Pendarvis, Circus World, H.H. Bennett Museum, Villa Louis, and Stonefield.

Free admission applies to two adults and all children under the age of 18 who live in the same household. Please note that the pass does not cover the fee for the boat ride to Black Point Estate, so plan accordingly if you intend to visit this location using the pass.

Admission fee waivers for state parks 

Admission fee waivers for Wisconsin’s state parks are available if you’d like to visit one of these locations but cannot pick up a culture pass from the Lake Geneva Public Library to do so.

Trail fees and vehicle admission may be waived for the following reasons:

• Private and public school events that have been authorized by the Department of Natural Resources
• Vehicles that are transporting students who have been authorized for outdoor academic classes run by an accredited WI university or college
• Groups with physically or mentally disabled persons, and their attendants, who are brought to the state park by a nonprofit organization

If one of these applies to you, you’ll need to fill out this waiver request at least seven days prior to your visit and follow the necessary directions on how to submit it.

A complete breakdown of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ fee waivers can be found here, as additional waivers are available for veterans, former prisoners of war, government employees, and other individuals.

How to get free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum

In most cases, you can visit Wisconsin attractions for free with culture passes you pick up from your local library, but let’s talk about another way to get free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum.

To do so, you’ll need to become a member of the museum, which requires a one-time fee. After you’ve paid the fee (there are various options available, including one for $65 for low-income families), you get free unlimited visits to the museum’s permanent exhibits for one full year. Memberships also provide discounted parking and gift shop fees as well as access to various events and programs, including free members-only events.

To learn more, and to find the membership option that works best for you and your budget, please click here.