CANDLELIT TOURS: Talking Spirits XXVIII: Forest Hill Cemetery Tours

WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM TALKING SPIRITS XXVIII – CANDLELIT TOURS AT FOREST HILL CEMETERY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD 5:00 – 9:30 PM

Rain Date: October 10th

GENERAL ADMISSION: $15

TICKETS FOR WVM MEMBERS ONLY: call 608.620.4861 or email molly.snow@wvmfoundation.com 

Please join the Wisconsin Veterans Museum on October 3rd for the return of our annual Talking Spirits Candlelit Tours, held at the beautiful Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison. On this 90-minute, nighttime walking tour, local actors will portray important figures buried at Forest Hill.

Tours will depart every 20 minutes beginning at 5:00 pm and the last tour will leave at 8:00 pm. These tours are limited to 25 guests per group.

Parking is available on Speedway Road or on neighborhood streets. Parking will not be available inside the cemetery.

***Due to the nature of the tour, the tour is majority in the dark. Therefore, guests might not be able to see the path as clearly as certain spots are uneven and at an incline.

Saturday candlelit tours will be available at the following times:

5:00 p.m. 5:20 p.m. 5:40 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:20 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 7:20 p.m. 7:40 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

Don’t want to miss out? Click here to join our newsletter list to receive updates on Cemetery Tour 2026 and other Wisconsin Veterans Museum events.

Weather Policy: The tours will happen rain or shine. Tours will be canceled for inclement weather- this includes heavy rain, lightning, or thunderstorms. In the event of such weather, a decision will be made no later than 6 AM the day of the tour, and any weather announcements will be sent via email and posted on the Museum and Foundation's Facebook pages. If we cancel for inclement weather, tours will be rescheduled to Saturday, October 10, 2026. 

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation for a full refund must be made two weeks prior to the reserved visit. Reservations cancelled after that date will not be refunded.

Theme: Wisconsin Was There: Badgers Building a Better Future

2026 Featured Stories:

Gen. George E. Bryant (1832–1907) - Considering that members of both his paternal and maternal sides of the family fought in the Revolutionary War, it’s not surprising that George E. Bryant was among the first to volunteer for service at the start of the Civil War. He fought in numerous battles that included Sherman’s March to the Sea. Once home from the war, Bryant served in many public offices and worked closely with Wisconsin’s famous Governor, “Fighting Bob LaFollette” and his ideas of a more progressive society. Bryant was also there in 1901 to help start the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

Lillian Frautschi Baker (1883–1962) - A soldier’s story can’t be told without the story of their family and community. The letters between Lillian Frautschi and her soon-to-be husband Egbert Baker, who was fighting overseas during WWI, share the impact of war between loved ones. Lillian Frautschi Baker’s story goes beyond the war to what it means to be an American. The daughter of a Swiss immigrant, her family worked to build the American dream, and part of that dream included service to country and community by many members of her extended family.

John Bardeen (1908–1991) - Only five people have been awarded two Nobel Prizes, and John Bardeen is one of them. His work with transistors and superconductivity is credited with bringing the information age to modern life. Every time you use a computer, it’s thanks to John Bardeen. During WWII, Bardeen also lent his talents to the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Washington, D.C.

Dr. William Shainline Middleton (1890–1975) - Middleton came to Wisconsin to teach at the UW Medical School in 1912, but the reach of his contributions was far broader than the walls of a school. After his return from France where he served as a medical officer during WWI, Middleton was named dean of the medical school, implementing new practices for doctors that are still with us today. During WWII, Middleton was assigned to the Office of the Chief Surgeon for the European Theater of Operations. In 1955, President Eisenhower appointed Middleton as Chief Medical Director of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the U.S. Veterans Administration. The Madison VA hospital was named the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital to honor Middleton and the many new ways to teach doctors and treat patients that he pioneered.

Questions? Please direct any questions about this event to visitor.curator@dva.wisconsin.gov

This event is suitable for all ages.

This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation and this project is supported by the Dane County Arts with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation.