The Museum Exhibits are Open!
Make plans to visit our traveling exhibit-
“Navajo Code Talkers”
During World War II, the United States Marine Corps sought to create a unique and unbreakable code. With the Navajo language, the code talkers coordinated operations in the Pacific theater, including the assault on Iwo Jima, without revealing any information to the enemy.
With a presentation by William Parker, the SWCHM Military Historian, on Sunday, June 4th, at 2 pm.
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.)
June 4th- 29th
Upcoming-
“Ho-Chunk Nation Traveling Exhibit”
According to oral history, the Ho-Chunk people have been in this region since before the two ice ages, occupying the area around Green Bay in Wisconsin, reaching beyond Lake Winnebago to the Wisconsin River and the Rock River in Illinois. The tribe hunted, fished, gathered, and gardened. A spiritual people, the Ho-Chunk have always respected the land which they call home.
July 2-August 31
With a presentation by Josephine Lee, Director of the Ho-Chunk Nation Museum and Cultural Center, on Sunday, July 23rd, at 2 pm.
History of the South Wood County Historical Museum Building
On the site of Isaac’s boyhood home, Anton Billmeyer built Shadowlawn for Isaac Witter in 1907. The house was built on grounds consisting of 230 feet of frontage on Third Street and 230 feet on the Wisconsin River.
The house was built in the neoclassical style, consisting of 23 rooms, not including the large halls, and had a central vacuum system. An elevator was installed after Isaac became ill.
In 1947, Isaac’s brother-in-law, George W. Mead, purchased the Witter home and grounds for $15,000.00 and presented it to the city to house the T.B. Scott Public Library, which opened in 1948.
After the McMillan Memorial Library was built and opened in 1970, the building and land were deeded to the South Wood County Historical Corporation for the museum, which opened in 1972.
Board of Directors
Leon Schmidt, President
Phil Brown, Vice-President
Sarah Sigler, Secretary
Mary Anne Getzin, Treasurer
Page Casey Clark
Lori Brost
Robert Zimmerman
Pete Smart
Richard Bender
Kathy Daly
Jack Wesley
J. Marshall Buehler
Curious about books by Wisconsin Rapids City Historian Dave Engel (LHS ’63), other local authors, or the SWCHC publication Artifacts? Visit our “Publications” Tab!
