Sun Prairie: Discover History, Culture and Nature

Sun Prairie offers a variety of themes to consider when planning a trip: a historic downtown, the story of Georgia O’Keeffe, a museum, a speedway, parks and a farmers market. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sun Prairie, you can first consider whether history, motorsports, biking or a market visit will shape your stay. This helps you choose a destination based on specific interests.

Historic Downtown and Georgia O’Keeffe

Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of the Sun Prairie Downtown Historic District. Georgia O’Keeffe’s Formative World also invites visitors to explore historic downtown Sun Prairie and follow in the artist’s footsteps. These offer two starting points for a stay focused on the town’s history and its connection to O’Keeffe.

The biographical connection to Sun Prairie is strong: Georgia O’Keeffe was born on a farm in town on November 15, 1887, and lived there with her family for 15 years. If you’d like to include her early life in your travel plans, you can consider her story alongside an exploration of downtown.

The Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum is housed in a red-brick building at 115 E. Main St. The building was constructed in 1924 as the community’s first standalone public library and has served as the city’s historical museum since 1969. The museum collects, preserves and shares the history of Sun Prairie’s settlement, development and residents. Its offerings include historical tours, research assistance and programs for young people. Its focus therefore ranges from the town’s development to the people who have shaped its history.

Another historic building is the Dr. Charles G. Crosse House, a Gothic Revival-style home. It is one of the oldest surviving homes in Sun Prairie and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Its specifically named architectural style and Landmark designation distinguish it from the history of the library and museum building.

Motorsports and Events

Angell Park Speedway offers a different focus: it is a one-third-mile clay oval track in Sun Prairie. The Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department still owns and operates the facility. For travelers interested in motorsports, the speedway is a specific, standalone point of interest in the city.

Frozen Fest is a multi-day festival in Sun Prairie leading up to Groundhog Day. If you’d like to plan a trip around the festival, check the specific event dates before making your plans. Its multi-day format makes it a different kind of occasion from a visit focused mainly on buildings, local history or biking.

Biking Trails, Scenery and Market

Sun Prairie’s 17 parks feature biking trails to explore. This makes biking an interest you can incorporate into your trip plans. Patrick Marsh offers a specific scenic focus: this 300-acre nature preserve is located on the shores of Brazee Lake in northeast Sun Prairie.

The Saturday Farmers Market offers fresh-grown produce and locally made products year-round. If the market is one of your travel interests, take Saturday into account when choosing your travel dates. Along with the multi-day Frozen Fest, the market offers a distinct reason to plan your trip: specific event dates matter for the festival, while Saturday is the key reference point for the market.

Find a Hotel That Suits Your Trip

Sun Prairie’s attractions offer a range of experiences: you can explore the historic downtown on a self-guided walking tour, check out the museum’s offerings or see the city by way of its biking trails and parks. O’Keeffe’s biography offers another historical perspective, while the speedway and Frozen Fest appeal to different travel interests.

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