Located in the historic Second Ward Savings Bank (built in 1913), the Milwaukee County Historical Society provides visitors with a glimpse at unique architecture and rotating exhibitions. The exhibits explore Milwaukee County's past, the achievemtns of its people and the community's ties to the state and nation. In addition, the Historical Society regularly hosts nationally acclaimed traveling exhibitions from such organizations as the Gilder Lehrman Institute and the Smithsonian Institution. The Historical Society also boasts an extensive research library, which houses naturalization papers and government records, photographs, maps, letters, personal documents and diaries.
The Historical Society's collection includes furniture, household goods, clothing, farm equipment, automobiles, paper artifacts, business artifacts, war artifacts, holiday decorations, etc....
The Research Library is filled with naturalization papers, government records, photographs, maps, letters, personal documents and diaries to research your own family tree or to explore the County's past.
The Historical Society provides guided tours of the exhibitions on site as well as tours of our four historic homes. School groups and recreational and professional organizations are welcome but an appointment is needed. We also have history kits and exhibits that are available for rent.
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: False