The History Museum at the Castle, 330 E. College Ave., Appleton, Wisconsin.
CONSTRUCTED OF STONE and anchored by a center tower, the impressive multi-story structure commanding the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin, presents an almost formidable exterior presence.
Aptly named The History Museum at the Castle, this sprawling castle-like fortress embodies the essence of history from the outside in. History seems meant to be showcased here. And it is, in this, the home of The Outagamie Historical Society.
Windows in the Siekman Room depict the history of the Fox Cities from the days of the early explorers until modern times.
Perhaps it is a matter of personal taste. But I prefer to learn about history within the walls of a place aged by time rather than in a sterile, modern facility. From the heavy wooden double front entry doors strapped with metal to the woodwork woven throughout the interior to the detailed wall scones, fireplace, paintings and stained glass windows, this museum exudes yesteryear.
More Fox Valley history in stained glass art.
Its history dates back to 1923-1924 when Waverly Lodge No. 51 constructed the complex for use as a Masonic Temple, according to Kathy Voigt, community engagement manager for the museum. Says Voigt:
Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is constructed in the Norman Revival style, characterized by the use of rough-hewn stone and other features reminiscent of medieval castles and churches, such as vaulted ceilings, heavy beams and leaded windows.
Artwork above an auditorium stage hints at the building’s past as a Masonic Temple.
In the mid-1980s, after the Masons could no longer afford to maintain the temple, the building was sold to the local historical society.
Windows depicting the region’s early fur trading history.
Today this building houses, among other exhibits, rotating and permanent, the history of the Fox River Valley, a region stretching from Green Bay on the north to Neenah on the south. The area was once home to the Fox River Valley Indians, AKA the Meskwaki/Mesquakie, who relocated to Wisconsin from the East around 1650. “Tools of Change” highlights the Fox Valley’s tools, people, work and everyday life between 1840-1950.
I noticed these incredible wall sconces in a Houdini exhibit room.
Other exhibits feature Senator Joseph McCarthy, born and raised in Appleton; Nobel Prize winning writer Edna Ferber; the work of local noted photographer Andrew J. Mueller; and, upstairs, a more extensive exhibit on illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini, who lived in Appleton as a child. I’ll post about the “AKA Houdini” exhibit tomorrow.
While the Leonardo da Vinci signage likely catches your eye first, look to the left and notice the fireplace, the lights, the floor.
But currently drawing the most interest is the museum’s temporary “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” exhibit which opened late last year and has now been extended through February 3. You can read about “Machines in Motion” in a previous post by clicking here. This show was my primary reason for touring the museum in early October when my husband and I were in Appleton visiting our second daughter.
Another view of the museum, from early October.
The historic Masonic Temple housing the museum rates as a bonus to the history inside. I wonder how many visitors, when they tug at those heavy front entry doors and then enter the castle, pause to appreciate the building they are standing within.
BONUS IMAGES:
Given my love of photography, the “From My View: The Photographs of Andrew J. Mueller” exhibit especially interested me. Mueller worked for the local newspaper, beginning as an artist there and becoming the paper’s full-time photographer in 1950. He approached photography from both artistic and journalistic perspectives.
Because of my journalism background, an old printing press also caught my eye.
Would any Wisconsin museum exhibit be complete without a cow? Here you can perch on the stool and pretend to milk this Holstein.
FYI: For more information about The History Museum at the Castle, click here.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love the “Hands on” milking spot!!! I definitely would have had my picture snapped there!!! The printing press looked amazing and I remember the previous post which featured the Machines in Motion display. Seems that there was a lot packed into this place!!! How long did you spend there? I bet it would take awhile to take it all in!
I actually took a photo of our daughter milking that cow. But because of low light conditions, shooting with available light and me not holding my camera still enough, the image was not sharp enough to publish here.
We were at the museum for several hours and, I must say, did not spend enough time perusing the local exhibits. I also wished I’d photographed more structural details. But my family will be patient with my photography for only so long.
Anyway, great place to visit and I’d highly recommend touring The History Museum at the Castle to anyone. Appleton is about 30 miles from Green Bay which is close to Door County, for those of you who vacation in that region. Appleton has lots to see and do and I’ve only begun to “see and do.”
Also, one of my favorite discoveries in the area is The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum an hour east of Appleton in the Michigan Lake-side community of Two Rivers. This museum boasts the largest collection of wood type, 1.5 million pieces when I visited, in the world. The museum has working press, ops for artists to use the presses, etc. I could have spent hours there. But, the family wasn’t quite as interested as me. Here’s a link to the post I published on that museum:
What a neat place. The stained glass is really nice.
Totally agree on this being a neat place. I showed you only a snippet of the windows.
I want to go visit now! I was completely unaware of the museum or that Houdini spent his childhood in Appleton. That’s a fun fact. Thanks for the post.
You are not alone. I did not know about Houdini’s ties to Appleton until our second daughter moved there two years ago.
The “Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion” exhibit runs only until February 3, so you have less than a month to see that, if that really interests you.
I love, love, love Appleton. It has so much to see and do. I’ve also shopped the outdoor Appleton Farm Market (moved into City Center for the winter), Lamers Dairy & Store (you can watch milk being bottled, but not on the weekend) and Simons Specialty Cheese Retail Store (in Little Chute, right next to Appleton); toured The Paper Discovery Center and Hearthstone Historic House Museum; and dined at the fabulous Sai Ram Indian Cuisine (restaurant) and Stone Cellar Brewpub.
Downtown Appleton features many historic buildings which gives the district a particular charm that I so appreciate; lots of little shops and eateries which I’ve only begun to explore.
On my list of other places I want to visit is The Trout Museum of Art.
You could easily spend a weekend in the Fox Valley area with plenty to see and do.
Amazing castle….right here in the midwest, it’s beautiful! Nice shots of the stained glass windows. I especially liked the fur traders in the canoe. Appleton does sound like a great place to visit, I’m sorry now we didn’t make time to stop there last summer when we visited Door County. Oh well, maybe another day 🙂
Well, Appleton is ONLY about 250 miles from Rochester, 300 for me. If you do go that direction again, you do need to drive east to Two Rivers. You can tour the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum and an historic fishing village, check out Lake Michigan, etc.
No, I do not work for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, although I sure sound like I do, don’t I?
What an imposing looking building with so much history. I would love to see that Leonardo exhibition. What a gifted and talented man he was. I used to think he was ‘just’ an artist but then discovered he offered so much more to the world xx
I had the same misconception of Leonardo as you. This exhibit really opened my eyes to another side of da Vinci.