Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center — Attraction in Town of Osceola

New to Wisconsin a few years back, we started visiting the Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit during the Covid pandemic to get away from crowds, and because a nearby state park campground had year-round open (pit) toilets. But every time we've stopped by this visitor center it was closed . . . until this past weekend!

The place is a sweet snapshot in time of the Ice Age in Wisconsin. But it's also a nice snapshot in time of when this place was built and outfitted . . . presumably in the 1970s or 1980s.

There are nice clean restrooms, a theater (but not seemingly in use), and many sciency exhibits. (The cultural ones are a bit dated, but generally informative nonetheless.) There's plenty of parking too.

Sure, this place doesn't hold a candle to better-funded National Park visitor centers were seen. But it's a great effort for an off-the-beaten-path state facility. ...

Awesome (and educational!!) place to check out if you're nearby! Although we camp and hike in the area frequently, we've never stopped in at the IAT Visitor's Center before today, but I'm glad we did. 😊 There's a lot of historical info to read, many taxidermied animals to look at, some beautiful trails to explore, and neat trinkets to purchase. Be sure to say "hello" to Scooter, their ornate box turtle who seems to love the attention! I'm so sad I did not catch her name, but the assistant working behind the desk was super friendly and abundant in her knowledge of the area; her love of not only the land, but its animals...

We were looking for the Passport stamp for the National Parks Service passport book for the Ice Age National Historic Trail. After visiting the forest headquarters and then this visitor's center, we were unable to find the stamp. When we arrived at the visitor's center, the ranger must have been conducting an educational program because I could hear a video playing in the theatre, but no one ever came out to greet us. We were there over 10 minutes and...