Joseph Goodrich, the founder of Milton, settled in Milton in 1839; he built a log cabin, since demolished, and brought the 1837 cabin to the site.
Goodrich was a Seventh-Day Baptist from the Burned-over district of western New York, and like most people of his faith, he was known for his anti-slavery sentiments.
Goodrich built the Milton House in 1845, which became a popular stop for travelers due to its location at the intersection of the military road between Chicago and Madison and the road from Janesville to Fort Atkinson.
The house's proximity to these routes and the Rock River allowed it to function as a stop on the Underground Railroad; fugitive slaves in Wisconsin frequently followed the river to the area before taking the road to Racine, where a boat could take them to Canada.
A tunnel connects the main building to a nearby cabin; while the circumstances in which the tunnel was constructed are unknown, Joseph's son Ezra claimed the tunnel was used to hide runaway slaves.
Goodrich also hosted prominent abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the house when she visited Milton in the 1860s.

In 1937 the house was in poor condition, uninhabited, and was threatened with being demolished.
The Milton Historical Society acquired and restored the building.

The house and cabin are open to the public via guided tours.

Milton House was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
It is the most prominent abolitionist site still standing in Wisconsin.
Joseph Goodrich, the founder of Milton, settled in Milton in 1839; he built a log cabin, since demolished, and brought the 1837 cabin to the site. Goodrich was a Seventh-Day Baptist from the Burned-over district of western New York, and like most people of his faith, he was known for his anti-slavery sentiments. Goodrich built the Milton House in 1845, which became a popular stop for travelers due to its location at the intersection of the military road between Chicago and Madison and the road from Janesville to Fort Atkinson. The house's proximity to these routes and the Rock River allowed it to function as a stop on the Underground Railroad; fugitive slaves in Wisconsin frequently followed the river to the area before taking the road to Racine, where a boat could take them to Canada. A tunnel connects the main building to a nearby cabin; while the circumstances in which the tunnel was constructed are unknown, Joseph's son Ezra claimed the tunnel was used to hide runaway slaves. Goodrich also hosted prominent abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the house when she visited Milton in the 1860s.
In 1937 the house was in poor condition, uninhabited, and was threatened with being demolished. The Milton Historical Society acquired and restored the building.
The house and cabin are open to the public via guided tours.
Milton House was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1998. It is the most prominent abolitionist site still standing in Wisconsin.
Milton House (Milton, Wisconsin)