Sauk City in Sauk County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Free Congregation of Sauk County

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, July 25, 2013

1. Free Congregation of Sauk County Marker

Inscription. Organized in 1852 by German-American settlers, the Free Congregation (Freie Gemeinde) dominated the cultural, economic and intellectual life of Sauk City well into the twentieth century. This is one of two congregations surviving a once prominent free thought movement in Wisconsin. The present building was erected in 1884 and contains an outstanding free thought library.

Erected by Wisconsin Council for Local History. (Marker Number 52.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 43° 16.478′ N, 89° 43.408′ W. Marker is in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in Sauk County. It is on Polk Street west of John Adams Street, on the right when traveling west. Located mid block between John Adams & Jefferson Sts. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 307 Polk Street, Sauk City WI 53583, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Madison.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sauk City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Culver's (approx. 0.4 miles away); August W. Derleth (approx. one mile away); Wollersheim Winery (approx. 1.3

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miles away); Mazomanie Sand Barrens (approx. 2 miles away); Wisconsin Heights Battlefield (approx. 2 miles away); Battle of Wisconsin Heights (approx. 2.1 miles away); In Memory of Rev. Adalbert Inama, O. Praem. (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sauk City.

More about this marker. This is Wisconsin Registered Landmark No. 52.

Also see . . . History Page for the Congregation. While this congregation became Unitarian prior to the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist movements, it comes from the distinct German Free Thought movement that was more popular in the 1840s. (Submitted on May 22, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Free Congregation of Sauk County image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, July 25, 2013

2. Free Congregation of Sauk County

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, July 25, 2013

3. Free Congregation of Sauk County

Freie Gemeinde plaque on front of building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, July 25, 2013

4. Freie Gemeinde plaque on front of building

Sauk City Historic Walk No. 6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, July 25, 2013

5. Sauk City Historic Walk No. 6

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 682 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 2, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.