Portage to
Columbus
Enter
Portage using any state of
federal highway. Proceed to the downtown area
and watch for Cook Street,
which is also State Hwy 33.
Cook street runs east and west. The
Antique Mall and
Strip-it Shoppe of Portage is
located at 114 West Cook
Street, downtown and on the south side
of the street. Parking is available on the
street or in a variety of parking lots downtown
and on side streets.
After visiting the Antique Mall and
Strip-it Shoppe of Portage, our next stop is
Pardeeville. Drive east on
Cook Street (Hwy 33) and leave
Portage. You will cross a bridge over railroad
tracks as you leave town (if you cross a bridge
over the Wisconsin River you are going the wrong
way on Hwy 33...turn around).
Just after you cross the railroad
tracks you will see a sign to the left for
Rustic Road #69. If you are
interested in history, this road parallels part
of the Portage Canal and takes
you three quarters of a mile to the
Indian Agency
House. As you continue east on
Hwy 33 you will cross the
Portage Canal and then the
Fox River. Immediately after
the Fox River bridge you will find
the Surgeon's Quarters of Old
Fort Winnebago on the right.
Continuing east on Hwy
33, travel approximately eight (8)
miles to the intersection with State Hwy
22. There is a four way traffic stop
here. Turn south (right) onto Hwy
22 and continue south about two (2)
miles and you will enter the Village of
Pardeeville. You will pass directly
thru the downtown business district. Here is a
fine opportunity to stop and fuel-up your
vehicle. A point of interest downtown is
Wild Bill's
Saloon (featured in our Dining,
Food & Entertainment Section) which serves a
fine luncheon menu in its northwoods style
dining room. Continue south thru
Pardeeville on Hwy
22 until you come to Industrial
Drive. Some landmarks to watch for are:
you will pass a factory on your right that makes
outdoor lighted signs for gas stations with
several working models visible, and on the left
will be a shopping center with a grocery store
and bank. Also you will see a sign for the Post
Office...you may follow the Post Office
directions because your destination is next to
the Post Office.
Turn north (right) on
Industrial Drive. After a few
hundred feet you will see on the left at
103 Industrial Drive, the
Pardeeville Antique
Mall. Ample parking is available
in their lot, so just pull in, park and just go
inside!
After leaving the Pardeeville
Antique Mall return to Hwy 22.
Turn south (right) onto Hwy 22
and drive toward Wyocena. You
will cross under a railroad viaduct and up a
small hill. At the top of the hill you will
cross a bridge that crosses State Hwy
16. After crossing the bridge, turn
left onto the access ramp to enter Hwy
16 toward Rio,
Fall River and
Columbus.
Follow Hwy 16 about
20 miles into Columbus. Upon
entering Columbus you will pass under a four
lane highway and your first set of stop & go
lights. Continue into Columbus on Hwy
16 to the downtown area to a set of
stop & go lights at the intersection with
Ludington Street. Continue
straight on Hwy 16 for one
block and at the end of that block turn north
(left) onto Water Street.
Follow Water Street north. At
the second intersection with East Church
Street turn south (right) onto
East Church Street. Go almost
to the end of Church Street
where you will see to your left a large brick
building which is the Columbus Antique
Mall and the Christopher Columbus
Museum. Enter their large
parking lot and enter through the large glass
entryway. After your antiquing be sure to
visit the attached Christopher Columbus
Museum.
Once finished at the Columbus
Antique Mall, you may backtrack to Hwy
16 and the downtown area for some other
shopping or a fine meal at the Capri Steak House &
Bar located at 126 South
Ludington Street right downtown on City Hwy 151
and 73. Be sure to check out their historic
1950s style overhead neon sign suspended over
the sidewalk.
This is the end of the Columbia County Antiques &
Collectables Day
Tour.
Thank you for visiting Columbia
County and our antique and collectibles shops
and any of our other fine businesses you may
have stopped and shopped
at.
