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Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm Saturday 1pm - 4:30pm Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm

Marathon County Historical Society

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Marathon County Historical Society

Our purpose is to collect, preserve and exhibit materials relating to Marathon County history. We off In 1995, the Society purchased the home of A.P. Maher.

In 1954, Leigh Yawkey Woodson and her daughters donated the home of her late parents, lumberman Cyrus C. Yawkey and Alice Richardson Yawkey, to the Historical Society. In 1974, the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A 3 million dollar restoration of the Yawkey estate was completed in 2008. the restoration include the house, the carriage house and the formal gardens. Wood

son and Leigh Yawkey Woodson. The house was built in 1914 and designed by Prairie School architect, George W. The Woodson House contains the library and archives, administrative offices, artifact storage, and the educational exhibit area.

06/03/2026

📸 **Now on Display Along Wausau's Riverfront!**

"We Stand Up For What We Believe In" is a powerful traveling outdoor exhibit from the Wisconsin Historical Society that highlights the many ways Wisconsinites have come together to advocate for change throughout our state's history.

Featuring striking images and stories of public participation, activism, labor movements, civil rights efforts, Indigenous advocacy, Pride celebrations, and more, this exhibit explores how ordinary people have helped shape Wisconsin's story.

The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Marathon County Historical Society and and is free to view along Wausau's riverfront.

Take a stroll, explore the stories, and discover how generations of Wisconsinites have stood up for what they believe in.

06/01/2026

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Kids History Camp at the Marathon County Historical Society!

This summer’s camp, From Forest to City: How Wausau Grew Up, invites young history explorers to discover how Wausau grew from forest land along the river into the city we know today.

Throughout this four-day camp, campers will explore local history through hands-on activities, stories, creative projects, movement, and guided discovery. Along the way, they will learn about the forests, river, logging industry, early community life, and the changes that helped shape Wausau over time.

Campers will be divided into age-based groups, with activities adapted for each group. Younger campers will focus on exploration, creativity, play, and curiosity, while older campers will be encouraged to think more deeply about change over time, community growth, and how historians use clues from the past.

Registration opens June 3, 2026 and space is limited to 30 campers. Registration will be available on the Marathon County Historical Society TicketSource website. We can’t wait to welcome campers for a fun, active, and meaningful week of local history!

Have any questions about camp? Give us a call at (715) 842-5750

05/28/2026

Today was a busy and inspiring day for local history in Marathon County!

MCHS Historian Ben Clark presented a program on the history of Rib Mountain to a packed crowd at The Landing, while Executive Director Blake Opal-Wahoske led downtown history tours for more than 120 Riverside Elementary students.

Back at the Historical Society, our Director of Outreach and Engagement Ben Rauen welcomed 40+ students from South Mountain Elementary for a day of exploring local history at the Yawkey House, the Wisconsin Valley Model Railroad Club, and the Woodson History Center.

From students to lifelong learners, we are grateful for every opportunity to connect our community with the stories, places, and people that shaped Marathon County. Thank you to everyone who joined us today!

05/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for “Fromm Farm: A Living Legacy Tour”

What an incredible day of history, storytelling, exploration, and community. It was amazing to see guests experience the Fromm Farm firsthand and engage with the stories that helped shape this important piece of Marathon County history.

We are also incredibly grateful to our partners who helped elevate the experience for our guests, including Forward Beverage Co. for providing their “In-Fashioned” beverages, and The Milk Merchant for creating the beautiful charcuterie cups enjoyed throughout the afternoon.

A special thank you also goes out to our volunteers for the day, and to our partners in this event, the Fromm Bros. Historical Preservation Society. Their time, energy, and welcoming presence helped make this event possible. Events like this truly take a community effort, and we are incredibly thankful for their support.

These are just a few of the first photos from today, with many more still to come. Thank you again to everyone who helped make this special Preservation Month experience such a success.

05/15/2026

This morning, Marathon County Historical Society's Executive Director Blake Opal-Wahoske spoke at the International Downtown Association’s Place Matters Conference as part of a panel on Cultural Storytelling & Downtown Engagement.

The session explored how historical organizations, downtown districts, preservation groups, and community partners can work together to create meaningful experiences through storytelling, placemaking, and local history.

Thank you to moderator Errin Welty, fellow speaker Raynetta “Ray” Hill, and everyone who joined the conversation about the important role history plays in building vibrant communities.

05/14/2026

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming volunteers from Liberty Mutual Insurance for their annual Serve with Liberty day!

This group has been a wonderful partner to the Marathon County Historical Society for many years, and we are always grateful for the energy, care, and commitment they bring to our sites. This year, they helped us get the Yawkey House Gardens ready for replanting by clearing beds, preparing soil, and giving the garden a strong start for the season ahead.

Work like this makes a real difference. The Yawkey House Gardens are a special part of our historic property, and we would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much today without their help.

Thank you to the Liberty Mutual team for rolling up your sleeves, getting your hands dirty, and spending a beautiful day helping us care for this important community space!

05/13/2026

We're SOLD OUT!

The Marathon County Historical Society and the Fromm Bros. Historical Preservation Society are excited to share that “Fromm Farm: A Living Legacy Tour” has officially sold out!

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and helped make this special Preservation Month experience happen. We are incredibly excited to welcome guests to the historic Fromm Farm on May 16 for a day of history, exploration, local refreshments, and storytelling.

We are grateful for the overwhelming support for this event, and we look forward to sharing moments from the farm soon!

05/10/2026

Staff Spotlight Sunday: Blake Opal Wahoske

This week we’re highlighting Blake Opal Wahoske, Executive Director, who has been with the Marathon County Historical Society for two years.

Blake’s favorite part of the job is connecting community members and visitors with local history and helping people better understand the stories that shaped Marathon County.

He is especially proud of the organization’s growing community programming, including the Old Fashioned Downtown Tour and Kids History Camps, which continue to create new ways for people to engage with local history.

For first time visitors, Blake recommends touring the historic Yawkey House to better understand the people, places, and stories that helped shape the community we know today.

This week, we’re highlighting Blake Opal Wahoske, Executive Director, who has been with the Marathon County Historical Society for two years. shape the community we know today.

05/07/2026

Early success in ginseng helped make this moment possible..

In the early years of the Fromm operation, profits from ginseng cultivation allowed the Fromm brothers to invest in their growing interest in breeding silver fox. That decision would transform the farm into one of the largest fox and mink operations in the United States.

This photo captures one of the Fromm fur auctions, held right on the farm in the 1930s. Instead of sending pelts to major fashion centers like New York or London, buyers traveled from near and far to Hamburg, turning this Marathon County property into a destination with national and international reach.

On Saturday, May 16, you’ll have the opportunity to see and explore the grounds where moments like this took place.

Two tour times are available, check out the full event details on our event page linked to this post!

**
Tickets are $40 for members and $45 for non-members, with a limited capacity.

Purchase tickets by calling 715-842-5750, online through the link on our Facebook Event Page, or stopping by the Woodson History Center.

Photo Courtesy of MCHS Photo Collections

05/06/2026

Thank you to Our Lives Magazine for featuring this meaningful look into Wausau’s LGBTQ+ history and the spaces that helped build community, connection, and belonging in our region. We are grateful to see these important local stories shared and preserved for future generations.

Be sure to read the article, “The Bars That Built Wausau”:
https://ourliveswisconsin.com/article/the-bars-that-built-wausau/

Address

410 McIndoe Street
Wausau, WI
54403

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm
Saturday	1pm - 4:30pm
Sunday	1pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

(715) 842-5750

Website

http://www.marathoncountyhistory.org/

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