Perhaps the oldest settlement in Mineral Point, Shake Rag Alley was the original heart of the business district when the area was first settled in the 1820s. Early mines and “badger holes” were close by and Federal Spring, which runs through the property, provided water to a rough and tumble neighborhood. Today the valley has emerged as headquarters and central campus of a town-wide arts and crafts education center, an exciting new venture for this well-known arts community.

Nine historic buildings circling the original spring under tall trees amid colorful gardens house many of the workshops. These include an 1828 Log Cabin, oldest building in Mineral Point; a stone-walled 1840s blacksmith shop; the Ellery Cabinet Shop; the 1840s Ellery House; and the Coach House, originally a stagecoach inn. Klais Pottery, an important manufacturer of earthenware, was established here in 1858, with the brick Potters House nearby. The Carriage House has been transformed into a cafe.

In the 1970s, Shake Rag Alley served as an artist incubator, promoted as an All American Garden for tours that featured craftsmen at work. Al and Eadie Felly gave new life to the area as they initiated ongoing restoration and turned the valley into a colorful paradise during their years at Shake Rag Alley. The valley has passed through several owners since, due in large part to its magnetism as a charmingly beautiful place and a significant part of Mineral Point and Wisconsin history.

The valley is now home to the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Owned and operated by a local non-profit group, this historic property is alive again with art and artists. Shake Rag Alley is now a community resource and an education center where people of all ages can come together for ongoing classes and workshop "Gatherings" in the visual and expressive arts, including fiber arts, basketry, gardening, rustic woodworking, cooking, music, acting, writing, and much more.