Plan Your Visit

All are welcome to connect with history at the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum!

Open Hours

The Museum is currently open by appointment only.

The schedule a visit, please call 608-837-3449.

Admission

Admission is free and all are welcome. 

Tours

To schedule a tour of the museum, please call 608-837-3449.

Accessibility

The main entrance to the Museum has two sets of stairs with nine steps total. The building is equipped with an accessibility lift for those who cannot use stairs. Please use the paved path on the west side of the building to locate the lift. Ring the doorbell on the wall or call 608-825-0837 for staff assistance. 

Exhibits and research space are maintained with accessibility standards in mind. The building includes an ADA accessible restroom with an infant changing station. 

Directions

115 East Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

  • Free parking is available behind the building, accessible from King Street, E. Lane Street, and S. Bristol Street. There is also limited street parking in front of the building.
  • A bike rack is available in front of the building on the Main Street sidewalk.
  • A bus stop for the Metro Transit S line is in front of the building.

Exhibits

Lithics

Ho-Chunk People and Lithic Projectile Points

Today's City of Sun Prairie exists on the ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk people. The Museum strives to acknowledge and honor the original people of this land through continued public education. The Museum's lithic (stone) projectile points were analyzed by UW-Madison students in 2025. Their research findings may be viewed on display at the Museum and online through the SPHLM Collections Database.
Object ID B3616 Charles Bird Home

The Historical Museum & the Bird Family

The Charles H. Bird home, shown here in 1922, was donated to the Village of Sun Prairie as a memorial to the first settler and his family.  Due to the weak condition of the home, the donor agreed to its removal and replacement by the current Museum building. Constructed in 1924, the building served as Sun Prairie's first standalone public library until 1967. Visit to learn more about this remarkable family and this historical building.

SPHLM Object ID B3616

O'Keeffe Room

Georgia O'Keeffe Room

World-renowned artist Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was born in Sun Prairie and leaned on her Wisconsin upbringing and strength to make her way in a predominately male art world. Known as "The Mother of American Modernism," she is remembered as a daughter of Sun Prairie with a historical marker near City Hall, an avenue with her name and a dedicated room in the Museum. The Museum is also the first stop on a virtual driving tour of Georgia O'Keeffe's Formative World.

Enjoy Sun Prairie

The Museum is part of the Sun Prairie Downtown Historic District, spanning 100 to 245 E. Main Street. Sun Prairie residents and out-of-town visitors will enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the Downtown Historic District. The Museum is pleased to offer three ways to learn about these local treasures:

  1. Pick up a printed walking tour booklet at the Museum, available for free while supplies last.
  2. View the walking tour e-booklet at https://view.flipdocs.com/?ID=10018939_686302.
  3. A virtual walking tour is available at https://theclio.com/tour/2405.

Learn more about other Sun Prairie destinations at https://visitsunprairie.com/.