The Mabel Tainter Theater is famous for being an example of classic American architecture built in the 1880s. The theater had its first performance way back in the 1890s. As you know, the site continues to host different music and arts programs. Folks come to see the recently revamped auditorium with its intricate hand-painted decor, the ancient library encased in marble and the exquisite stained glass windows. 

Each facet of the décor writes a different piece of Wisconsin history down for visitors. Here are  five random facts you might like to think about the next time you happen to be walking past the sandstone building ...

1. The Mabel Tainter was not just meant to be a theater. It was also a Unitarian Church, library, art gallery, and memorial.

2. They have a pipe organ that was installed in 1890. The organ originally cost $4,160 (a cool mint in those days). The organ has 1,597 pipes, ranging from 2 inches to 16 feet.

3. When the Memorial Library opened in January of 1891 it included only 3,000 volumes. By 1925 the collection included over 17,000 volumes, 2,500 public documents, and 4,000 pamphlets.  That was bigger than the University of Wisconsin-Stout library at the time.

4. The Reading Room serves as a Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway Information site. This means you if you geek out for Little House on the Prairie, this is the place for you. There are brochures available about Wilder, in addition to books, postcards and related merchandise.

5. If you ask nicely, the caretakers will let you run rampant on the stage. The stage is encased in carved wooden reliefs and velvet curtains, happens to be an amazing backdrop for pictures. Get your whole family up there and fake a story about how you got famous when you were on vacation. 

After all is said and done however, you should probably check out a show at the historic theater. Showtimes and pricing are here.