Established 1904

Walworth County Historical Society

The mission of the Walworth County Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the rich history of Walworth County, the State of Wisconsin and the United States.

Walworth County Time Capsule

WHAT SHOULD WE PLACE IN THE
2026 TIME CAPSULE
To be opened 50 years from now in 2076

Time capsules are archival containers that allow us to preserve items representative of our lives and culture today for people in the future. Can you think of records and objects from your life today that would reveal information about us to future generations?

The time capsule and Idea Log will be available at the Walworth County Fair in the Sharon Townhall to collect additional ideas. At the close of the collection period, OCTOBER 27, 2026 items will be appropriately archived in the capsule and stored at the Walworth County Historical Society.

Click here to send us your ideas!

Auditorium Renovation

Restore the Past. Inspire the Future.

Help Bring the Historic Art Deco Auditorium Back to Life

Our Vision is to restore the auditorium to its original Art Deco elegance while transforming it into a modern, flexible venue designed to serve today’s community.

Learn More About The Renovation

2026 Walworth County Historical Societies Passport Contest

From Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026, stop by each participating Historical Society’s museum during open dates & hours and get a stamp or sticker at each location. Check each website first for changes in hours listed herein.
Completed Passports with all 9 stamps will get a gold foil seal placed below & be entered into two prize drawings.

Learn More About The Passport Contest

Membership

Donate

Become a Member

Benefits of membership include unlimited use of research and genealogy centers, admission to all WCHS exhibits, quarterly newsletter from the WCHS, and invitation to the annual meeting and dinner.

The Walworth County Historical Society is an affiliate of the Wisconsin State Historical Society and has been in existence since 1904. The society is a 501 (c)3 not for profit organization.

Highlighted Collections

Webster House

Open Spring through fall
Friday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Webster House Museum is a well maintained white clapboard house, containing Civil War and Victorian period items. The composer Joseph Philbrick Webster once owned the home. Both the structure and its famous owner played an important part of the history of Elkhorn.

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Doris M. Reinke Research Center

Open Year Round
Wednesday & Thursday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

The Doris M. Reinke Research Center is an integral part of the Walworth County History Center. It contains a vast collection of rare books, documents, maps, photos and 3-D artifacts as well as other ephemera related to the history of the county, the State of Wisconsin and the United States.

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Veterans Museum

Hours
October through Mid May by appointment only.

Mid May through September
Friday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Our Veteran’s Museum in the Walworth County History Center is a place honoring the men and women from those generations who served and are serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. We have artifacts from Revolutionary War until present day.

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Genealogy Center

Open Year Round

Wednesday & Thursday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

The Genealogy Center at the Walworth County Historical Society is a composite of donated county family histories, diaries and photo albums, county cemetery information, an obituary file, as well as a county surname file.The materials are non-circulating and access to research is available under staff supervision.

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Explore the Walworth County Veteran Memorials website to discover a historic registry of all veterans buried in Walworth County, Wisconsin. This enduring resource honors their contributions and safeguards the legacy of those who defended our nation throughout generations.