Geneva Lake Museum

06/12/2026

Today we honor local military hero, Lieutenant Linda Frame, Army Nurse Corps USAR.

“I am a lifelong resident of Lake Geneva and veteran who served in the Army Nurse Corps as a Lieutenant in the USAR, assigned as a Field training instructor for the Medic Unit from April 13, 1983, to April 13, 1987, preparing recruits for their upcoming assignments.
My role, began training medics in emergency care on day one, progressing to every real-life medical situation to save lives, from hanging in trees, underwater, in gunfire, and severe storms.” Being a woman in the military, an RN, and a senior officer was already 3 strikes against me receiving these assignments with a regiment of all male recruits, who initially did their best to break me down without success. Instead, they consistently became the most decorated, respected regiments.”
On April 13, 1987, Officer Frame retired from the USAR with an honorable discharge and remained at the Level 1 hospital trauma unit until retirement in 2018. She now has her own business, Elegant Fine Finishes.

06/09/2026

Today, we honor local military hero, PO2 Michael J. Glass, U.S. Navy.

Mike grew up in Lake Geneva and was a third generation of this community. He attended Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva graduating with the rank of Captain.
He went on a long 16 year career in the United States Navy, sailing the world may times over. Mike served from 1984-1997 and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and San Diego, California but did the bulk of his tours in the Middle East. During all his years in the Navy he lived on a ship. In 1987 he was on the USS Stark that was hit by terrorists over the Persian Gulf and spent quite a bit of time in Bahrain and earned many medals.

06/09/2026

Please join us for a very special opening ceremony of our new exhibit, "Honoring Our Local Military Heroes."

Doors will open at 3:30 with a half hour Prelude of fabulous Patriotic/American music from Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra's Resolution Brass Quintet.

The Ceremony will begin promptly 4:00 followed by a quick viewing of the exhibit and refreshments of sweets treats and lemonade in the Map Room.

We are honored to have a sweet table of baked goods provided by the American Legion Auxiliary. Let's fill up their donation jars!

Free parking is available at East View School just north of the Museum.

06/08/2026

Today we honor local military hero, Chaplain John McNamara, Union Army Civil War.

Born in Ireland in 1821, John came to the United States in 1832, settling in New York. He studied at General Theological Seminary and was known as an Abolitionist Priest. Serving as a missionary deacon he was sent to the town of Geneva in the year of 1850 where he founded the Church of the Holy Communion.

Beginning in 1861, he served as chaplain for the First Wisconsin Regiment in the Union Army through the war’s end. McNamara’s account of the well know Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia, in which his regiment fought, remains one of the best accounts of the battle.

John died in 1885 in Nebraska however was buried in Pioneer Cemetery in Lake Geneva. As a faithful servant, he lived up to his commitment to “do the most good for God and humanity.”

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Today we honor Robert Giles, US Army Vietnam.

“I served in the United State Army Aviation from March 69 through November 71. I was stationed in Vinh Long Vietnam with the 175TH Assault Helicopter Company as crew chief/door gunner on a UH-1H Huey helicopter and later flight line maintenance supervisor with the rank of E5 from May 1970 to April 71. I finished my time at Ft Hood building up a Helicopter Maintenance Company.”

06/04/2026

The museum is looking for volunteers!

Summer is here and we are seeing more and more visitors to Lake Geneva and the museum. We are looking for friendly folks who like history to join our volunteer crew as docents (museum guides) and floor monitors.

Docents greet visitors and offer a brief overview of the museum before letting people go to explore. Docents also help answer questions and maintain museum manners. If you are a local history buff and like to chat with visitors to Lake Geneva, this is a good job for you. If you know the area but need to brush up on your local facts, we help with that, too!

Floor monitors walk the floor during open hours, may answer questions from time to time, but mainly serve to keep exhibits tended, remind visitors of museum manners, and let staff know of any issues (burnt out lightbulbs, broken or missing items, etc.). This is a good job for someone who has good attention to detail and is happy to cruise the museum floor as backup for the docents.

Volunteer hours are generally pretty flexible with 2 different shifts available each day (except Sunday, which is our short day and there's just one shift from 11am-3pm).

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact us here, via email on our website (link in bio), on Facebook, or stop into the museum! We are now open 7 days a week.

We hope to see you soon!

06/01/2026

A fun way to support Geneva Lake Museum!

06/01/2026

Today we honor local military hero Corporal Claire Walsh Koch
US Marine Corps WWII. Claire Walsh Koch, was born in Hartland, WI. Claire served during World War II with the United States Marine Corps.
After her service, Claire moved to Lake Geneva and was a member of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church, member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and was a member of the Women Marines Association.
She was an avid reader keeping current on the world around her or enjoying a good novel. She liked the music of the 40’s and 50’s, the big bands and Tony Bennett, she loved to dance, especially ballroom dancing.