The Silver Dome Ballroom
The Silver Dome Ballroom is a building constructed in 1933 located about five miles west of Neillsville, Wisconsin. It features an innovative roof design using over 100 concrete piers that creates an open interior without support posts, allowing dancers to move freely across a maple floor alongside original fixtures like a circular bar and walk-in cooler.
Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1933 by the Keller brothers working with carpenter Cornel Moen, employing an innovative Lamella truss roof design for the time. The building has operated under various owners since its opening and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
The name Silver Dome refers to the original silver-painted aluminum roof that gave the building its distinctive look. The ballroom served as a gathering place where couples met, families celebrated, and dance traditions like polka and waltz remained central to community life.
The building is located west of Neillsville on Highway 10 and visible from the road, though exact access details should be confirmed beforehand. To view the interior or attend events, visitors should contact in advance since the venue is not always open for casual visits or tours.
Carpenter Cornel Moen built a custom saw powered by a Ford Model T engine to cut large beams on site during construction without electricity. This homemade saw remains at the location today and stands as a remarkable example of the ingenuity needed to complete the ballroom during the Great Depression era.
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