Racine Heritage Museum

Racine Heritage Museum We invite you to join the over 30,000 annual visitors to Racine Heritage Museum, and take advantage

Approximately 2500 years ago, Indigenous cultures began constructing burial mounds, a handful of which still exist today...
06/17/2026

Approximately 2500 years ago, Indigenous cultures began constructing burial mounds, a handful of which still exist today. In Racine County, evidence of this Effigy Mound Culture has been discovered in areas of Racine, Raymond, and Burlington. The Racine mounds were extensively studied by Philo Hoy, Dr. Increase Lapham (who drew this map), and other archaeologists. As you can see, the highest concentration of mounds was centered near Mound Cemetery. You might also notice that most of mounds were demolished as the city grew. There is no definitive answer as to why these effigy mounds were built other than as a place to bury the dead (also, not every effigy mounds contain human remains) but there are several theories. The animal shaped mounds may have been symbolic of the clans that built them. They may have been some sort of map or perhaps even something related to a calendar. There is also a theory that they may have been related to sources of water because so many can be found near lakes and rivers, such is the case with Racine's mounds.

If you have been following along with this series, you've likely seen a lot of posts about technological advancements in...
06/16/2026

If you have been following along with this series, you've likely seen a lot of posts about technological advancements in Racine County's history, but its important to note that our history of innovation started long before 1836 (the year Racine County was established) with the indigenous people that first called this area home. Through their history we have come to understand the advancements that humans have been making in this area for thousands of years. When it comes to RHM's collection the presence of tools found in this area has really illustrated the technological advancements indigenous groups made in order to make things like agriculture more efficient and effective. These pieces of copper likely originated from Northern Michigan/Lake Superior, ending up here through trade or tribal migration. Copper mined from regions around Lake Superior was often shaped into tools or weapons.

On a clear, yet cool, late fall day a clock was counting down the final seconds to a game of football. After a goal line...
06/15/2026

On a clear, yet cool, late fall day a clock was counting down the final seconds to a game of football. After a goal line stand, the Racine Legionnaires made a desperate drive to tie or win. Unfortunately, they only made it to the opponents’ 40-yard line, forcing them to take a field goal. The center lined up and snapped the football to the holder. The ball sailed off the kicker’s foot, spiraled upwards in a high, almost perfect arc, and sailed through the uprights. As time expired the players and the almost 7,000 fans witnessed not only a 3-3 tie between the Green Bay Packers and the Racine Legion, but also the beginning of professional football in Wisconsin.

Led by star running back Hank Gillo, the Racine Legion Legionnaires battled the Green Bay Packers on December 4, 1921, at Borchert Field, or Athletic Park, in Milwaukee for the Wisconsin State championship. The game was highly anticipated by the residents of Racine and over 100 cars formed a caravan as boosters drove to watch the game.

The was not the first time that a Racine football team had played green Bay. On October 12, 1919, Racine and Green Bay engaged in a hard-fought game, and Green Bay came away victorious. 76-6. It was the first time in two years that a team had even scored on Green Bay, and it was the first game in two years that Racine had lost a game.

Over their four years of existence, the Legionnaires engaged in a heated rivalry with the Packers in which they went 3-3-2.

Racine was once home to a National Football league team, yet this was decades before the sport resembled anything simila...
06/14/2026

Racine was once home to a National Football league team, yet this was decades before the sport resembled anything similar to what it is today. Instead of huge stadiums packed with fans, professional football played in open fields and spectators stood to watch the game. Money was collected by passing a hat through the crowd and there were no multi-million-dollar contracts. Yet in the early 1920’s , professional football became a growing sensation in many cities in the Midwest, and Racine was no exception.

In 1894, two prominent citizens of Racine, William Mitchell Lewis and William Horlick jr. created the Racine Athletic Association football club. City, schools. And businesses formed teams and organize football became a part of Racine’s culture.

After World War I, the Racine American Legion formed a professional team with the help of sponsor William Horlick Jr. and in 1921 played their first season as an organized team against competition from throughout the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. In the 1921 season, the Legionnaires would win five games, tie three, and lose only one. The NFL later awarded the Racine team a franchise for the 1922 season.

Due to financial problems, professional football in Racine only lasted until 1924 when the franchise was sold to a businessman from Portsmouth, Ohio. While no other teams from Racine competed in the NFL, Racine featured a number of semipro and amateur teams, such as the Racine Raiders. Formed after World War II, the Raiders have operated on and off for decades, winning multiple conference championships and five semipro world championships.

In the 1912 election, President Woodrow Wilson defeated Taft as well as 3rd party nominee Teddy Roosevelt. Wilson serve...
06/13/2026

In the 1912 election, President Woodrow Wilson defeated Taft as well as 3rd party nominee Teddy Roosevelt. Wilson served two terms as president. Pictured here are campaign posters made by the Racine Poster Co. The photo is undated but this is likely from Wilson's 1916 campaign for re-election where one of the arguments in support of Wilson was that he kept America at peace and out of Wars. Several of these posters advertise Wilson's presidency as an era of peace and prosperity.

Pictured here are Racine citizens lining up along state street to see President Taft go by. Taft was in office from 190...
06/12/2026

Pictured here are Racine citizens lining up along state street to see President Taft go by. Taft was in office from 1909 to 1913. On a visit to Racine in June of 1910, Taft proceeded in a motorcade down to the Lakeside Auditorium, the venue for Taft's visit. Built in 1884, Lakeside Auditorium was the largest hall in Racine. It was located on Lake Ave. and 3rd Street. The auditorium burned down in 1919 and two years later fundraising began for a new public space on Lake Ave: Memorial Hall.

Months ago we covered some of the history of Memorial Hall, a place that has seen many visits from campaigning president...
06/11/2026

Months ago we covered some of the history of Memorial Hall, a place that has seen many visits from campaigning presidents. But what about presidential visits before then? Pictured here is a huge crowd gathered at the Chicago and North Western Railroad station on state street. On October 17th 1899, President Mckinley stopped in Racine while campaigning for re-election in 1900. From the train he addresses the crowd.

In 1944, the Racine-Kenosha County Truck Growers Association contracted with the U.S. War Manpower Commission to provide...
06/10/2026

In 1944, the Racine-Kenosha County Truck Growers Association contracted with the U.S. War Manpower Commission to provide much needed labor in the form of German Prisoners of War. The military began establishing a camp in Sturtevant, on the corner of 90th street and Durand Ave, to house the prisoners who would work the farms. This camp became one of approximately 30 POW camps in Wisconsin. Their arrival to Camp Sturtevant was a source of great interest to the people of Racine County. The prisoners were brought to the camp on June 16th, 1944. People from all over the county came to try to get a look at the German soldiers who would now be their neighbors. A piece of a faraway war brought to their own backyard. In December of 1945 Camp Sturtevant was officially closed and the prisoners sent to Fort Sheridan before starting their journey home.

Knowing that the time would come when the people of Wisconsin would study the happenings of World War II with the same i...
06/09/2026

Knowing that the time would come when the people of Wisconsin would study the happenings of World War II with the same interest given to previous wars, the Wisconsin State Council of Defense began organizing ‘War Records Committees’. In 1943, the Racine County War Records committee was formed with the mission of collecting records regarding the military service of Racine County’s men and women, war production by local businesses, and overall stories of the Homefront.

The first meeting of the War Records Committee took place at the public library, which at the time was located in our current building. At 8:15pm Friday, June 18th, 1943 a committee of 16 people gathered to plan out how they were going to accomplish their momentous goal. They were aided in this process by a ‘War Records Manual (pictured here) that provided them with information on what kind of records to collect and how to organize and archive them. The committee kept thorough documentation of their activities and added them to the manual. Nearly every effort made by the War Records Committee is recorded here. Today the records are a part of our historic archive.

The Army-Navy 'E' Flag was awarded to companies that had shown excellence in production for the war effort during WWII. ...
06/09/2026

The Army-Navy 'E' Flag was awarded to companies that had shown excellence in production for the war effort during WWII. In 1943, Gorton Machine Co. became the first of Racine’s manufacturers to win the Army-Navy ‘E’ award. Their WWII production consisted of machines and parts used by other companies to more rapidly produce parts for controls on planes, warships, submarines, guns, and tanks. Gorton’s continuous quality in production resulted in four Star Awards for their ‘E’ flag. Only 820 companies nationwide had reached such a high level of achievement. Other Racine 'E' Award winners include but are not limited to:

Belle City Malleable and Racine Steel
Castings Co.- Steel Castings

Hamilton Beach-Fractional sized precision motors

Nelson Bros. and Strom- Drive shafts for naval vessels.

Standard Foundry Co.- Cylinder head castings.

Twin Disk Clutch Co.- Marine reverse and reduction gears for navy landing crafts.

Webster Electric Co. (The image in this post is a page from their newsletter celebrating the award)- Developed a fire control device for the 40 mm anti-aircraft gun.
- Created intercom systems for the air forces.
- Produced fuel units and transformers for ships and military camps.

Walker-Ajax Mfg. Co.- Hydraulic jacks.
- Primer fuses for 20mm guns.
- Ammunition boxes for 20mm guns.
- Tank seats.
- Tire pumps.

Burlington Brassworks- 75mm and 90mm Shells.

Burlington Mills-Felt and other fabric goods.

Address

701 Main Street
Racine, WI
53403

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12626363926

Website

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