MADISON, WI – Today, members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus visited the historic Milton House Museum, Wisconsin’s only certified Underground Railroad site open for tours, as well as an exhibit at Milton College honoring former Milton Academy students who fought for abolition in the Civil War. Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“It was my honor today to lead a group of members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus to tour the Milton House Museum and an exhibit on the Milton College campus in Milton, Wisconsin. I would like to first acknowledge Chairwoman Senator Dora Drake and all the other WLBC members who were in attendance for today’s program. I would also like to acknowledge Senator Mark Spreitzer, Representative Brienne Brown, and Former Representative Don Vruwink. Thank you for welcoming us to your district and for joining us on this important historical tour.
Additionally, I want to give a special thank-you to President of the Milton House Museum Board of Directors Eugene Bier and Executive Director Keighton Kloss for welcoming us to the Milton House, arranging today’s tour and program, and for all they do to preserve and promote the Milton House’s Civil Rights history. Thank you as well to Dave Warren for organizing transportation and ensuring we arrived safely.
As Black History Month draws to a close, it’s imperative that we continue supporting sites that hold great significance to Civil Rights and abolition history in our state. As the only Underground Railroad site in Wisconsin open for the public to tour, the Milton House Museum is truly a gem. I am proud to support their work, in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction, to develop educational resources that use the Milton House’s legacy to teach local Civil Rights history to our Wisconsin K-12 scholars.
It was also an incredible experience to visit the former Milton College site and tour their exhibit dedicated to the Wide Awakes, Milton Academy students who enlisted in the Civil War to fight for abolition and freedom for all, as well as stand in the chapel where Sojourner Truth spoke when she visited Milton. These stories are essential to the history of our state, and I cannot wait for pupils across Wisconsin to learn them.
Black history is American history. It is Wisconsin history. It is our history. I deeply appreciate all who were involved in today’s tour, and I am excited to see how the Milton House’s educational project continues to grow and develop.”
