Portage Wisconsin Historical Society

10/08/2026

We had a great crowd last night for Member Appreciation Night at the museum! Thank you to all of our corporate members, individual members, board of directors, docents, volunteers, and curator for all you do for our museum. We could not do it without every single one of you.

Amy Lord from the Ice Age Trail Alliance gave a very informative presentation on the Ice Age Trail that runs through Wisconsin (St. Croix Falls to Potawatomi State Park in Door County.

Mammoth Challenge 2026
Every October, hikers from across Wisconsin—and beyond—set out to experience the Trail at its most beautiful. Some reconnect with favorite places in Wisconsin (Portage is an Ice Age Trail Community). Families make memories together. Friends challenge each other. Solo hikers find peace among the fall colors.

However you choose to do it, you’ll finish October with unforgettable adventures, new discoveries, and a patch you’ve truly earned. Hike, walk, backpack, or run 46 miles on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, visit 3 Ice Age Trail Communities, and earn a certificate of achievement and a limited-edition Mammoth Hike Challenge patch. To register for free or want to check it out, go the the Ice Age Trail Alliance's website.

10/06/2026

Member Appreciation Night is tomorrow evening! All Portage Historical Society members are welcome to attend! We look forward to seeing you.

09/28/2026

Fall is the perfect time to "fall" into a good book! Check this out!

Join us to kick-off our National Endowment for the Arts Big Read on October 1st! Free copies of the book will be available at the library starting Oct. 1.

09/16/2026

Portage is the perfect place for history buffs!

08/22/2026

Thanks to the Friends of the Portage Library for bringing this great author to the Portage Public Library this morning! Don't miss it.

Join us as we celebrate back to school with Susan Apps-Bodilly. She will help us understand what it was like to attend school when it was 1 room, 1 teacher and 8 grades :) She will highlight information from her book and also share stories from her late father Jerry Apps.

08/18/2026

Head over to the Portage Public Library this weekend for another great program! Do you have memories of one-room schoolhouses?

Join us as we celebrate back to school with Susan Apps-Bodilly. She will help us understand what it was like to attend school when it was 1 room, 1 teacher and 8 grades :) She will highlight information from her book and also share stories from her late father Jerry Apps.

08/16/2026

A tremendous thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for another wonderful Zona Gale Celebrates Friendship Village. We had a full house to hear Jeff Grothman's presentation about stories of the Fox River. He also paid tribute to the Writers at the Portage and encouraged the celebration of Portage's rich history.

08/15/2026

It's a perfect afternoon for refreshments at the The Women's Civic League of Portage, Inc. !

08/15/2026

Welcome to Friendship Village!

08/15/2026

Today's the day! We are so excited to be a part of another year of the great Portage tradition of Zona Gale Celebrates Friendship Village!

Explore Portage with a full day of history, food, and fun at Zona Gale Celebrates Friendship Village!

Happening Saturday, August 15 at various locations in Portage. 🌞

🪦 9:00 AM – Oak Grove Cemetery Tour with the Historic Preservation Commission
🏛️ 11:00 AM – Presentation by Jeff Grothman at the Museum at the Portage, along with tours
🥧 1:00 PM – BBQ Lunch, Pie & Ice Cream Social at the Women's Civic League Home, free tours and live music in the backyard along the Wisconsin River!

Spend the day discovering the rich history of Portage and enjoy a few sweet treats along the way! ❤️