Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum

Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Collecting and sharing stories that make Waukesha County unique since 1906. Join us in exploring, discovering, and growing together!

WCHSM for 100 years has collected, preserved, and shared the rich stories of Waukesha County, Wicsonsin. From the earliest contact of traders and American Indians, to the roaring Springs Era, and the technology and industry that emerged in the 20th century - Waukesha has always been a place of innovation, enjoyment, and discovery. Through our museum and archive we are proud to preserve 18,000 arti

facts and more than one million documents. Our exhibits and education programs reach youth and adults from all walks of life and all over the world. Highlights of our Museum Include:
Les Paul: the Wizard of Waukesha

We’re excited to welcome our summer interns! Aubrey from Waukesha is studying Anthropology at the University of Wisconsi...
05/30/2026

We’re excited to welcome our summer interns! Aubrey from Waukesha is studying Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin. Ben from Waukesha and Emma from Brookfield are both masters students at UW-Milwaukee, working on their museum studies certificates! All three are serving as collections assistants. Welcome aboard!

Last week, students from Waukesha North High School’s History Club helped us with our collections inventory! We’re so th...
05/29/2026

Last week, students from Waukesha North High School’s History Club helped us with our collections inventory! We’re so thankful for their help. We all had a fun time exploring bits of Waukesha history. ❤️

PHOTO: Waukesha County Historical Society MuseumSister CitiesSister Cities or Twin Towns are two communities in differen...
05/27/2026

PHOTO: Waukesha County Historical Society Museum

Sister Cities

Sister Cities or Twin Towns are two communities in different countries that develop a relationship. This concept surged after WWII in an effort to unite and build understanding between different countries. Sister City International, a nonprofit organization whose aim is to develop and strengthen community partnerships between cities, counties, and states by promoting cultural awareness and growth, was born around this time too. In Waukesha County, the cities of Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Brookfield, Waukesha, and Waukesha County itself all have or have had a sister relationship.

The City of Waukesha joined Sister City International around 1988. It was on the smaller side of those who were looking for sister cities at the time and this caused a little bit of a challenge. However, Kokschetau, Kazakstan was interested in developing a relationship with Waukesha. The two became sister cities in 1989 and agreed to the exchange of teachers, students, and business people. Archives at the museum show different trips and exchanges between the two cities through the 15th anniversary of their sister city agreement, in 2003.

These figurines are from Kokschetau, Kazakstan and were probably donated around 1993. Anita B. Vatndal and Jack Dukes were involved with the donation. Anita was the Waukesha County Museum director starting around 1991 through about 1997 and Jack was a Carroll College History professor and the Executive Director of the Waukesha Sister City Association.

We’re thrilled to welcome our new Education Coordinator—check out Ian’s biography to learn more about him!Hello everyone...
05/26/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome our new Education Coordinator—check out Ian’s biography to learn more about him!

Hello everyone!

My name is Ian Frederickson, and I am the new education coordinator at the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum. I would like to introduce myself and my background as I am looking forward to working and engaging with the community. I come from a small town in Wisconsin called Kaukauna. As a child I would prefer to go to museums and Civil War reenactments with my grandmother who introduced me to the world of history. In high school, history tended to be the only subject I was good at, which led me to pursue an education within it. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for a degree in history with a minor in political science. The phenomenal professors, programs, and city persuaded me to further my education and continue to get a master’s degree in public history with the museum studies certificate. I am currently finishing up my degree with one more semester to go! I had the pleasure of interning at a couple of institutions before landing my position here. I would like to thank the History Museum at the Castle and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for giving me the opportunity of interning and getting hands-on experience. My research and personal topics vary in history including the Vietnam War, John F. Kennedy, the 1960s, ancient Egypt, music history, film history, and media studies. I am also a fan of beer and brewing history, so I picked the right state to live in!

During my free time I make it imperative to continue with my hobbies because I firmly believe that is what keeps you young. I enjoy watching and collecting films, listening to and buying vinyl records, reading – mostly history and philosophy, working out, and antiquing.

I look forward to this position and would like to thank this institution and the board for allowing me to work here. Please don’t be a stranger and reach out!

Tha

Just a reminder that we are closed today. We look forward to seeing you next week!
05/23/2026

Just a reminder that we are closed today. We look forward to seeing you next week!

In observance of Memorial Day, our museum will be closed on Saturday, May 23rd so our staff and volunteers can enjoy tim...
05/21/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, our museum will be closed on Saturday, May 23rd so our staff and volunteers can enjoy time with their families and friends. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful holiday weekend.

PHOTO: Waukesha County Historical Society MuseumBENJAMIN HOUSEI’ve come across this picture (left) several times and it ...
05/21/2026

PHOTO: Waukesha County Historical Society Museum

BENJAMIN HOUSE

I’ve come across this picture (left) several times and it looked familiar and I finally decided to do some investigating. The picture is actually a scan of a 1925 postcard in our collection and is located at 308 McCall St. It was built in 1895 and remodeled in 1930 and owned by Roy Leland Benjamin.

Benjamin came to Waukesha in 1894 at the age of 19 from New York state and became a salesman for a leather goods company. He became a partner of Charles Nehs in a very successful shoe store which he left after 12 years to become a partner with Rudolph Thomann and started a new career in insurance and real estate. He became an elder in the Presbyterian church, a Carroll College Trustee, a Rotarian and a member of the Waukesha Real Estate Board, He was also a Director the Waukesha Savings & Loan, the Golden Guernsey Cooperative and VP of the Golden Guernsey Milk Producers Co-operative. Active in local politics, he was on the County Board and elected to the Common Council. He passed way in 1935 and is interred at Prairie Home Cemetery.

I drove over to McCall Street to look at the house and found that it had been enlarged considerably in the 1930 remodel (check the number of windows) and a sunroom built off to the side The current photo (right) shows a hitching post that was installed in the early days of the house.

None of that told me why it looked familiar, but my brother was with me the day I went to look at it and asked why we were stopping at ‘Johnny’s’ old house. Turns out that a good friend that he met in high school grew up there. It is a small world.

Today was recognizing the important role museums play in helping our communities learn about our shared world around u...
05/19/2026

Today was recognizing the important role museums play in helping our communities learn about our shared world around us. Sure, museums teach about history, art, and science. But they also fill us with the joy of discovery, wonder, and gaining new perspective.

In your own backyard, the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum is here for our community, engaging visitors and shaping our future. Help us in supporting our mission by becoming a member today!

https://waukeshacountymuseum.org

Address

101 W Main Street
Waukesha, WI
53186

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12625212859

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share