Two Rivers is a city in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, on the shores of the Lake Michigan. The city’s claim to fame is as a "birthplace of the ice cream sundae." The Bernard Schwartz House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is open to visitors through occasional public tours. It is the only Wright’s house where guests can stay overnight. The Historic Washington House is free and open to the public. It is now an ice cream parlor and museum. The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum is the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. Point Beach State Forest and Park is a popular destination for hiking, biking, skiing, and swimming in Lake Michigan in the summer. The Rogers Street Fishing Village is a maritime museum. Woodland Dunes Nature Center is a 1,500-acre area of hardwood and conifer forests, wetlands, and prairies and bird-watchers paradise.
1. Hamilton Wild Type Museum
Located in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum is dedicated to the study, preservation, production and printing of wood type used in letterpress printing. The museum was originally located in the former Hamilton Manufacturing Company factory building but was moved in 2013 to the former Formrite Company building. The museum has a collection of more than 1.5 million pieces of wood type in more than 1,000 styles. The museum also includes the presses and vintage prints. The museum organizes a range of workshops and conferences throughout the year and welcomes students from universities from across the United States. The museum is run by the Two Rivers Historical Society.
1816 10th St, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 920-794-6272
2. Rogers Street Fishing Village, Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Located on the banks of the East Twin River, near Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Rogers Street Fishing Village is a museum and heritage park with four historic buildings that feature exhibits on America's commercial fishing. Visitors can board the 1936 wooden fishing tug BUDDY O, visit the fishing sheds, watch the antique Kahlenberg Marine Oil Engine start up, listen to the whistles and horns. The highlight of the visit is climbing up to the 1886 Two Rivers' North Pier Lighthouse for a spectacular bird's eye view of the entire Fishing Village. A part of the museum is also the Great Lakes Coast Guard Exhibit SHIPWRECKS!, with artifacts rescued from the depths of Lake Michigan's most famous shipwrecks.
2102 Jackson St, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 920-793-5905
3. Woodland Dunes Nature Center, Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve is a 1,500-acre area of hardwood and conifer forests, wetlands, and prairies between the towns of Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. There are about seven miles of hiking trails winding through verdant marshes, wooded ridges and lush meadows. Center’s 14 ridges and swales are home and a stopover to neo-tropical songbirds, Monarch butterflies, bats, amphibians, mammals and more than 400 plant species. Visitors can observe about 260 species of birds, including 36 species of warblers. There are environmental education programs year around for adults and youth. The center serves as an outdoor classroom for thousands of students in the region.
3000 Hawthorne Ave, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 920-793-4007
4. Bernard Schwartz House, Two Rivers, WI
The Bernard Schwartz House, known as Still Bend, is a magnificent 3,000-square foot house in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Life Magazine considered it Wright's "Dream House," and a unique example of a two-story Usonian house. Wright designed the house originally for Life in 1938. The house is believed to have the oldest in-floor heating system in the country. It is located on the East Twin River about a mile from Lake Michigan. When he wrote in Life Magazine about the house plan, Frank Lloyd Wright mentioned that it reflects the American family unique lifestyle, with its special private spaces, super conveniences and great style. The Schwartz House is one of the few Wright homes open to the public that allow guests to spend the night.
3425 Adams St, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 612-840-7507
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5. Spirit of the Rivers, Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Spirit of the Rivers is a majestic group of bronze sculptures placed on shore of the Lake Michigan, between Manitowoc and Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The monument celebrates the history and culture of the area’s earliest inhabitants and reminds us that native people lived on the lake shore for centuries before the timber was all cut to develop present cities. A group of portageur hold on their shoulders the birch bark canoe as a tribute to the first vessels to sail the lake waters and start the area’s rich maritime history. The statues, created by Richard Wallen, are over ten feet tall and weigh three tons.
4815 Memorial Dr, Two Rivers, WI 54241
6. Machut's Supper Club, Two Rivers, WI
Machut’s Supper Club is a family-owned and run restaurant founded in 1961 by Norman & Lorraine Machut. It started under the name Babe & Norm’s Bar, serving hamburgers and Mexican-style chili at the bar since there was no dining room. After remodeling in 1980, they started offering family-style roasted chicken, pork chops and fish. The enlarged bar could seat 75 patrons and the banquet room can seat up to 100 people. The dining room is unpretentious and homey, the portions are generous and the menu is extensive and focused on traditional American comfort food. There is a small wine list.
3911 Lincoln Ave, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 920-793-9432
7. Waverly Inn and Pizzeria, Two Rivers, WI
Located in the historic building in downtown Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Waverly Inn Pub & Pizzeria is a popular local pizza restaurant and bar known for the best thin crust pizzas in the area. What makes all the difference is their signature Waverly pizza sauce, premium toppings, and large portions. There is a fish fry on Friday, which is also a karaoke evening. Saturday is reserved for steaks – the choice is between tenderloin, New York strip, or rib eye. The dining room is spacious with exposed brick walls and high ceiling. There are plenty of TVs above the fully stocked bar and occasional live music. During the warm months, the guests can enjoy dining al fresco on the cozy patio.
1402 16th St, Two Rivers, WI 54241, Phone: 920-794-1709
8. Point Beach State Forest
Point Beach State Forest is located along 6 miles of scenic Lake Michigan shoreline, where it provides a popular recreation area. Here you will find sand dunes, a light house and plenty of fun activities for the whole family. The forest campground offers 120 campsites, of which 70 have electrical hook-up, and there are restrooms and a shower block. Activities are many and varied; you can simply enjoy the 5+ miles of undeveloped beach on foot or enjoy swimming, paddling, boating and other water activities. In addition, the forest offers 11 miles of hiking and skiing trails as well as paved trails for biking and mountain biking.
9400 Country Road O, Two Rivers, WI 54241, 920-794-7480
9. Things to Do in Two Rivers, Wisconsin: Van der Brohe Arboretum
More than just a collection of trees, the van der Brohe Arboretum will incorporate a community Art Park and an essential sanctuary for migrating birds. The arboretum covers 65 scenic acres, which was formerly home to a golf course. The arboretum was established in 2018 to provide and protect a community green space where residents and visitors can come to learn more about the environment and about trees and shrubs in general. Although the arboretum is still very young, trails have been laid to enable visitors to access the interior of the site and the art nodes. As more and more visiting birds find this sanctuary, it is hoped that the arboretum will become a popular bird-watching site.
3800 Lincoln Avenue, Two Rivers, WI 54241, 920-726-4850
10. LondonDairy Alpaca Ranch
The whole family will enjoy spending a few hours meeting and learning about alpacas at the LondonDairy Alpaca Ranch in Two Rivers. On your tour of the ranch you will get the chance to meet some of the friendly resident alpacas, feed them and even take photos with them. You will also learn about their unique wool and its uses. At the end of the tour you can buy a wide range of alpaca products and a selection of South American wines at the shop. The ranch offers regular events for those who are considering setting up their own alpaca farms. Visitors are invited to book their tour of the ranch at least 48 hours in advance, as this is a working ranch and walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
6827 State Highway 147, Two Rivers, WI 54241, 920-793-4165
11. Things to Do Near Me: Rawley Point Lighthouse
The Rawley Point Lighthouse is a prominent landmark on Point Beach, where it has provided an essential navigational guide since 1853. The light at the top of the steel lighthouse structure is 113 feet above the surface of the lake, and is visible from a distance of 19 miles. The lighthouse was originally a brick structure and part of the original building had been incorporated into the current keeper’s house. Visitors can admire and photograph the historic lighthouse from the beach – it is not generally open to the public for tours. Before the original lighthouse was built, there were many marine tragedies at the Point – a total of 26 ships either sand or stranded on this little section of the coast.
Point Beach State Forest, 9400 Country Road O, Two Rivers, WI 54241
12. Eastwin Valley Golf Course
Eastwin Valley Golf Course is a nine-hole golf course which lies along the banks of the Eastwin River. Although it is a short course (Par 3), it is perfectly manicured and offers a fun and challenging game for all, with plenty of opportunities to hone your short game and try to score an elusive hole-in-one. In addition, the course offers Foot Golf (or Soccer Golf) which is great fun for all ages (from 5 years up) and needs no special equipment except for a #5 soccer ball which you can rent on-site. There is also a picnic area where you can relax after your game.
3012 Riverdale Lane, Two Rivers, WI 54241, 927-793-5997
