Paws for History

Why a Cat Contest?

This event honors the legacy of Dr. Rachel Salisbury, a trailblazing Milton educator, historian, and cat enthusiast. A founding member of both the Milton Historical Society in 1948 and the Rock County Humane Society in 1959 (now the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin), Dr. Salisbury spent her life serving education and animal welfare. After retiring from teaching in 1954, she became a nationally known cat fancier, even creating a new Persian cat color, called a “Cameo,” a pinky-peach shade recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1959. Known lovingly in Milton as “The Cat Lady,” she ran her Wanaki Cattery from her home on Madison Avenue in Milton.

We are proud to celebrate her remarkable contributions to our community, and we know she would be delighted that her love of cats continues to inspire and support the Milton House today!

Prizes

Contest Winner: The top vote getter will win the prize package

LaPHOTO - Cat photo session with a professional photographer
Barista Cats Cafe & Sanctuary for Wayward Cats, Whitewater WI. - Prize TBD but will be passes to the cafe, a gift certificate, or a gift basket of items from their gift shop
Elmside Goods, Milton: Pocket Notebook set with cats on it
Milton House Museum, Milton: A Milton House hat with funny cat pins on it

Rules

Contest Winner: The top vote getter will win the prize package
Photos can be submitted at any point during the contest, from November 1-30th. Voting on photos ends at 6:00 PM (Central Time) on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Voting is done online only, no in-person voting available at the Milton House Museum.
If your entry was taken by a professional photographer, you are responsible for ensuring you have permission to submit that image in the contest.
Photos become the property of the Milton House Museum/Milton Historical Society and may be used and/or altered for other marketing/fundraising efforts.
Milton House Museum reserves the right to reject any images or captions deemed inappropriate by staff.
Absolutely no print photographs will be accepted.

About Us

The Milton House Museum is the only certified Underground Railroad site in the state of Wisconsin that is open to the public. We take pride in preserving the history of the historic Milton House itself, the Freedom Seekers who sought shelter here, and of the Milton and surrounding communities.