Eau Claire Info

Tour the historic Dell's Mill Historical Landmark & Museum from May through Oct. The building is a five story structure made of hand hewn timbers & held together by wooden pegs. It contains 3,000 feet of belting & 175 pulleys. The water from Bridge Creek powered the flour & feed mill, which operated for over 100 years.  Relish the sights, sounds and smells of the past, State & National Historic site. The Dells Mill was built in 1864 as a grist mill.  It is now over 140 years old. Farmers met and had their grinding done.

The colorful Dells Mill, painted red, has now been in Clark family ownership through four generations. Gus Clark and his mother, Mrs. Bessie Clark, restored it 11 years ago and they now operate it as a museum. They still put it to its original use sometimes to grind whole wheat flour which they sell to tourists. In springtime they clean seed oats for local farmers. They take pride in the fact that the mill has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

Teachers like to bring school children to the mills for tours, especially in springtime. As a sideline, Gus operates, a gun shop on the mill property and his mother runs e’ antique shop there. Antiques aren’t confined to the shop, however. A number of antiques are exhibited inside the mill museum where guests can also see tools which were used in milling, farming and lumbering.

Except for the sound of water cascading over the 23 foot dam outside, the mill is a quiet place while visitors listen to the tour guide’s explanation of how it operates, but the moment he engages the water-powered turbine, the mill comes to life with a thunderous rumble.

Visiting hours:

May thru October (daily) 10am – 5pm