Wisconsin is known for some quirky attractions, but you might not know about one of the most colorful and unique attractions in all of Wisconsin: the Dickeyville Grotto. Unless you’re driving through town and really looking for it, you could very well miss it. Many people who live in Wisconsin have no idea that it exists. But it is definitely worth a drive.

From the roadside, this looks like a big pile of rocks and junk.
Corinna Makris/Flickr
But this is actually a grotto, built by Father Mathias Wernerus between 1925 and 1931.
Corinna Makris/Flickr
Grottoes were popping up all across the United States at this time.
Greg Hanson/Flickr
It is rather ornate, with a small artificial cave, statue alcoves, arches, and fountains.
designatednaphour/Flickr

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There are plenty of small details everywhere you look.
Corinna Makris/Flickr
It is fun to pick out what exactly went into making this structure, whether it's costume jewelry or shells.
Carol Mitchell/Flickr
Father Wernerus worried that this would become an international tourist attraction, commercializing the area.
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin/Flickr
But as locals will tell you, it's stayed a secret, and it continues to baffle unknowing folks who drive by.
Corinna Makris/Flickr

Come visit. 305 W Main St, Dickeyville, WI 53808.

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