Hi All,

I just got back from a weekend trip to the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 
area, and had the great pleasure of "discovering" a Wisconsin 
Historical Society property called "OLD WORLD WISCONSIN" - a 160-acre 
complex of woods and fields with various reconstructed farmsteads 
reflecting Wisconsin's ethnic heritage.  Using salvaged buildings 
from various locations, there were German, Finnish, Norwegian, Polish 
and other farmsteads, as well as various other 19th century 
buildings, cows, chickens, interpreters, etc.

Having grown up with Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn, 
Michigan, I am certainly familiar with the concept, but I was very 
impressed with the Old World Wisconsin execution -- sort of reminded 
me of the Cade's Cove section in the Smokey Mountains National Park 
....

Being new to Illinois, does anyone have suggestions for other 
historic sites, building zoos, or similar attractions that I should 
be thinking about here in the central Midwest ... or anywhere else, 
for that matter?  Other people's favorites?

Thanks in advance,  Mark
-- 

Mark C. Branstner
Historic Archaeologist

Illinois Transportation
Archaeological Research Program
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 517.927.4556
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"Liebe: eine Gleichung mit zwei Unbekannten"

- Gerhard Branstner (1927- )

"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth,
without either virtue or talents ... The artificial aristocracy is a
mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to
prevent its ascendancy."

- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)