For nearly 150 years historians have portrayed Orville Babcock as one of the principal actors in the corrupt Ulysses S. Grant administration. This narrative has left Babcock to be seen as only a classic villain beside a naive and sometimes simple-minded Grant. Local historian, Peter Adams has approached the subject by studying Babcock and Grant not just as historical figures, but as men. 

During WWII the Red Cross mobilized in support of the U.S. miliary, our Allies and civilian victims. In nearly every American family, someone was a Red Cross volunteer, donor, blood donor, or received Red Cross services. Learn about the varied and numerous wartime efforts by the Neenah Red Cross during WWII from presenter Kara Rothkegel.  

Spend the evening exploring the life of Isabel Johnson with Associate Director, Erica Suchyta and Florence Bruno. Isabel Bacon-Rogers was a divorced mother when she married America’s wealthiest widower, Charles R. Smith of Menasha Woodenware. Learn about Isabels passion for men, architecture and the finer things in life.

Enjoy the holiday season with A Very Neenah Christmas. This member only event will feature free horse drawn carriage rides between the Octagon House and Future Neenah’s downtown event. We encourage everyone to warm up in the Octagon House with refreshments!

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Oneida Storyteller, Debra Morningstar. Debra has been presenting cultural programs for 28 years and will cover aspects of Native culture and traditions. This program is sponsored by Old National Bank.

Join us in raising funds for the Neenah Historical Society with a fashion show featuring our rarely seen collection of vintage clothing!

Styled by board member Christa Vogt of Acre Vintage in downtown Neenah, over 30 pieces of clothing will be modeled with additional items on display.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in the style of their favorite era. Tintype portraits will be available for purchase by Silvergraphic. Tickets include food, beverages and a silent auction.

Join us for the third installment in our "Founders and Settlers" Series.

Led by Tom Van Lieshout, historians from the Neenah and Menasha Historical Societies will delve into the lives and impact of Amos Page and Reverend O.P. Clinton.

This is a pre-recorded presentation and will also be added to our YouTube channel.

A master of the keyboard, a composer of over 400 published pieces including Rattlesnake Rag and the official Wisconsin State Polka, Neenah High School graduate Eddy Hanson spent the better part of seven decades at work in the entertainment world. From his penniless days growing up in central Wisconsin to the top of the penthouse in Chicago his life was filled with successful adventures and personal mishaps. Through it all, Hanson remained true to his local roots and devotion to family.

This presentation will follow Eddy’s storied career in the form of a mini-drama while listening to several of his works.

Linda Harmon plays Eddy Hanson songs as playwright Patrick Phair narrates.

Celebrate Native American history and culture by joining the Neenah Historical Society and Menasha Historical Society for our Neenah-Menasha Intertribal Powwow. The pow wow will feature dancers and drum groups from throughout Wisconsin. Native American food will be available for purchase.

This drug and alcohol free event is free and open to the public.

Thank you to our generous sponsors - City of Neenah, Bay Bank and Future Neenah.

Bring your family to the Octagon House for a free afternoon of fun!

Pack a picnic to enjoy on our grounds, explore the exhibit at the Octagon House, walk through our beautiful gardens and play old time games.

We are in walking distance from Downtown Neenah, Arrowhead Park, Loop the Lake Trail and The Plaza!

The 2023 Annual Cemetery Walk at Oak Hill Cemetery will focus on the stories of four individuals who came to Neenah in the mid 1800s and helped establish our city.

Suggested donation of $5/person or $10/car load.

Bring your family to the Octagon House for a free afternoon of fun!

Pack a picnic to enjoy on our grounds, explore the exhibit at the Octagon House, walk through our beautiful gardens and play old time games.

We are in walking distance from Downtown Neenah, Arrowhead Park, Loop the Lake Trail and The Plaza!

Celebrate Neenah’s history with a night of Pub Trivia at The Dome!

Teams of 4 must register in advance. Call us for more details: 920-729-0244

Celebrate the Fourth of July at Riverside Park in Neenah. Come play historic games, take a walking tour of Wisconsin Avenue (12PM) or the Helen Kimberly Stuart Trail (2PM)

Bring your family to the Octagon House for a free afternoon of fun!

Pack a picnic to enjoy on our grounds, explore the exhibit at the Octagon House, walk through our beautiful gardens and play old time games.

We are in walking distance from Downtown Neenah, Arrowhead Park, Loop the Lake Trail and The Plaza!

The 2023 Annual Meeting and Dinner will be held at the Best Western Bridgewood Resort on May 25. The schedule is:

Welcome and Cocktail Hour 5:30 p.m.
Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Business Meeting 7:15 p.m.
Special Presentation by Chris Haese - City of Neenah Director of Community Development and Assessments

Your RSVP (including meal choice), may be mailed with full payment to Neenah Historical Society, PO Box 343, Neenah, WI 54957 by Friday, May 12, 2023. Tickets are $35/person and payment can also be made through the Shop page on our website.

Author and Oneida Nation member Dr. Carol Cornelius shares the history of the 1800’s removal era from the indigenous perspective. Many treaties and agreements were made in the formation of cities like Neenah and Menasha. Carol will lay out how these treaties took Indigenous lands in Wisconsin piece by piece from the Menominee, Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, Lakota and Potawatomi.
Carol completed her Ph.D. at Cornell University in 1992. Her major was curriculum and instruction, and minor American Indian culture and history. She taught at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay for three years and helped build the First Nations Studies undergraduate program.

Learn about the Fox River Valley and Native American heritage from Oneida Nation member Lois Stevens.
Lois is an Assistant Professor of First Nations Studies and the First Nations Education Doctoral Program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She received her PhD from the University of Kansas in the Department of Geography. Growing up on the Oneida Reservation, she developed a deep appreciation for ancestral knowledge, community relationship, and an understanding of her impact on Mother Earth. 

Join us for the 2nd episode in our series, Founders and Settlers.
We will cover the process of the transfer of the United States Governments Winnebago Rapids Settlement and surrounding areas to the cities of Neenah and Menasha. Early settler George Mansur will be showcased in this presentation by local historian and researcher Tom Van Lieshout.

Did you know that there was a Driving Park on Doty Island that featured horse racing? The Doty Island Driving Park was also a fairground, sporting event venue and a viewing grounds for yachting regattas on Lake Winnebago. Learn about this fascinating and largely unknown part of our local history by historian and presenter Jeff Heimerman.

Painting by Chas. Beyer

This month, we will honor Native American Heritage month with a presentation featuring National Heritage Fellow Karen Ann Hoffman. Karen Ann is an Oneida tribal member who is a Haudenosaunee Raised Beadwork artist and storyteller. She will explain the connection between beadwork, food, and storytelling in her community.

Thank you to Old National Bank for sponsoring this program.

Photo credit: Photos by Jim

Help us raise funds for the Neenah Historical Society. We invite you to join us in an Ellis Island themed event held at the historic Howard Hawks home (433 E. Wisconsin Avenue in Neenah). Your ticket will include beverages, international foods, and a silent auction. You can dress up as an immigrant of your choice or your finest attire.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $100 per person. Reservations are required and must be made by November 1, 2022.

RSVP Cards can be downloaded and printed using the information: RSVP Form Please print the forms and mail them to Neenah Historical Society, P.O. Box 343, Neenah, WI 54957 and include payment for your admission. A link to pay online is available in our shop.

The Neenah/Menasha funeral establishment history starts with furniture stores in the 1880s. Our journey through the development of family-owned funeral homes will include stories about the Sorenson, Kessler, Westgor, and Laemmrich families. Join our Treasurer and Kessler-Fahrenkrug Office Administrator Becky Heidke Kwiatkowski as she discusses the intriguing stories of the funeral businesses of Neenah and Menasha.

We are partnering with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center to bring this great cultural performance to our community. We invite you to join us!

Brulé | September 17, 2022 | Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

The group is best known for thrilling audiences with a mergence of cultural rock and theatrical instrumentations. Now in their 26th season, their national performances carry the same contagious excitement as Trans Siberian Orchestra, Celtic Thunder, and Riverdance—but with the emotional impact of the American Indian culture.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit: https://foxcitiespac.com/eventstickets/tickets/events/brule/brule

Please help us celebrate the Native American history and culture of this area, and join the Neenah Historical Society and Menasha Historical Society for our Neenah-Menasha Inter-Tribal Pow Wow. The pow wow will feature dancers and drum groups from throughout Wisconsin. Native American food will be available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public at Shattuck Park in Neenah.

Thank you to our generous sponsors - Bay Bank and the City of Neenah.

For our Native American dancers - if you would like to change into your regalia at the pow wow: we have reserved two rooms at the Neenah Public Library (next to Shattuck Park). They are Room 109 and the Yaz Room and they will be designated. You may also change out of your regalia after the pow wow in the same rooms at the Library. We thank the Neenah Public Library for their assistance!

Join us for a FREE concert prior to the Pow Wow! Clinton Miller, a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican tribe, composes his own unique contemporary songs. He's been playing guitar since the age of 12 and has been singing and writing his own songs for many years. You can get a taste of his music on his page here:
https://www.reverbnation.com/clintonjmiller 

Join us for the Neenah Farm Market’s Back to School Bash and learn more about Neenah’s amazing history. Become a history detective and discover the stories behind some of Neenah’s most iconic locations. The Neenah Police Department, who partner with us on the workshop, will help us learn how to investigate a crime scene and understand how being a detective works.

Paddle back in time and join the Neenah Landmarks Commission and Neenah Historical Society at the Farm Market for the opportunity to enjoy a free ride on a 25 foot long Voyageur Canoe. You’ll learn about the landmark homes along Wisconsin Avenue from the riverside perspective. Children must be accompanied by adults for this fun adventure.

The 2022 annual cemetery walk at Oak Hill Cemetery will focus on immigration stories of four individuals who traveled from Europe and settled in Neenah, and their impact on the community. Join us as our costumed re-enactors present the stories of Elizabeth Meyer, Signe Boehm, Henry Hewitt and Jens Jersild.

Suggested donation of $5/person or $10/car load.

This program will be recorded and will be available on our YouTube channel at a later date.

Join us for a concert with three-time Grammy award winning artist Bill Miller. His flute music is amazing and you won’t want to miss this event. The event will be held at the Riverside Park pavilion.

There is limited seating on park benches - you may want to bring your own lawn chair or blanket. You may also want to consider bug spray for mosquitoes.

The concert is sponsored by Bergstrom Automotive - Thank You!!