Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Janesville is a city of about 66,000 people on the Rock River in southern Wisconsin, the seat of Rock County and about 40 minutes south of Madison. Founded in the 1830s, it grew as a farming and manufacturing center and was long home to a large General Motors plant. Its nickname, Wisconsin's Park Place, reflects more than 2,000 acres of parkland.
Highlights include Rotary Botanical Gardens, with themed gardens around a small lake, and the Lincoln-Tallman House, a grand 1850s mansion where Abraham Lincoln stayed in 1859. Downtown Janesville has historic districts along Main Street and the riverfront, and the new Town Square on the Rock River hosts concerts and events.
In summer, the Rock Aqua Jays put on free water ski shows at Traxler Park, and trails including a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail wind through the city. Madison, Lake Geneva and Rockford, Illinois are all within an easy drive.
A 20-acre botanical garden built around a small lake, with more than 20 themed gardens including Japanese, English cottage, Italian and prairie gardens, plus a visitor center and gift shop. Spring bulbs and summer blooms are lovely, and the Holiday Light Show runs in winter. Allow one to two hours.
A riverside park on the Rock River north of downtown, best known as the home of the Rock Aqua Jays ski shows, with a boat launch, lawns, picnic areas and grandstand seating by the water. It is a good spot to watch boats and sunsets over the river. Parking can be tight on show nights, so arrive early.
One of Janesville's largest parks, with wooded hills, picnic shelters, tennis courts, open lawns and a large accessible community playground built with local volunteers. It is a favorite spot for family outings. Weekends are busy in summer; there are several parking lots around the park.
A 26-room Italianate mansion completed in 1857 for the Tallman family, where Abraham Lincoln stayed in 1859, the only private home in Wisconsin where he slept. Guided tours by the Rock County Historical Society show original furnishings and family stories. Check tour times, which vary by season.
A National Register historic district of 19th-century brick commercial buildings along South Main Street near the Rock River, now home to shops, restaurants and offices. Many facades have decorative cornices and arched windows. Combine a walk here with Town Square and Firehouse Park on the riverfront.
An award-winning amateur water ski team that performs free shows on the Rock River at Traxler Park on summer evenings, with pyramids, jumps and barefoot skiing. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and arrive early for a good spot on the bank. Check the schedule, as shows run mainly June through August.
A riverfront public square in downtown Janesville with terraced seating along the Rock River, a pedestrian bridge, lawns and an event plaza used for concerts, festivals and markets. It is the heart of the city's downtown revitalization. Walk from here to the shops and restaurants on Main Street.
A residential historic district of handsome 19th and early 20th-century homes in Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles around a small circle near downtown Janesville. It shows the wealth of the city's early industrial era. The homes are private, so enjoy them from the sidewalk.
Janesville's main public library, set beside the Rock River downtown, with bright reading rooms, local history collections, children's areas and a busy calendar of free programs. Visitors are welcome to use the Wi-Fi or relax with a book. It is a short walk from Town Square and Main Street.
Part of the 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through Janesville, using paved city paths and parkland along the Rock River and through glacial landscapes on the city's edges. It is easy, mostly flat walking or biking. Look for the yellow blazes and maps from the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
No reviews yet. Been to Janesville? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Janesville? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Jeramey Jannene (Grassferry49), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: TheCatalyst31, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Djngsf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Steakley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sa magnuson33, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tim Kiser, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tim Kiser, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
