Waupaca Historical Society

06/12/2026

Step inside one of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King's most iconic historic buildings this summer!

Following each Chain Skiers show, the Waupaca Historical Society will open the historic Commandant's House for free public tours. Built in 1888 and designed by noted architect William Waters, the Commandant's House served as the residence of the Veterans Home's Commandant for more than 120 years and remains the only large frame structure from the Home's historic period.

Explore the beautiful Queen Anne architecture, learn about the history of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, and discover the stories of this remarkable place.

Tours begin immediately following the Chain Skiers performances, from about 7-8 pm. We hope you'll make a visit to the Commandant's House part of your summer!

06/11/2026

The Waupaca Historical Society is excited to take over the Bandstand during Strawberry Fest!

We'll also have fun children's activities throughout the day in the Bandstand and gift shop items available for purchase! You can also check out the new exhibit around the outside of the Bandstand while you are there!

Be sure to add the Bandstand to your Strawberry Fest plans—we can't wait to see you there! 🍓

06/09/2026

Each month, we will be featuring one barn from our Waupaca County Farmstead and Barn Survey Project. This month, we are featuring a beautiful barn in the Town of Dayton. This Dutch gambrel dairy barn sits on the shore of Stratton Lake. It was originally part of the Johanknecht farm and was built in 1927. Farming stopped 10 years later because the soil was too sandy for crops, and farmland was later subdivided. The current owners first purchased land containing the barn and then later purchased the adjacent plot with the farmhouse. The lower level of the barn was beautifully restored and updated for entertaining.

We want to hear about all our county’s barns--active or preserved--and the stories you have about to tell about them! If you are passionate about local history and would like to volunteer, or if you own a historic barn and would like it to be included in the survey, please contact the Waupaca Historical Society at [email protected] or 715-256-9980.

And, for additional information on this ongoing project, visit the Waupaca Historical Society website at https://www.waupacahistoricalsociety.org/waupaca-county-barn-survey.

06/05/2026

Great segment last night about our plans to preserve the Commandant's House at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King!

The historic Commandant's House at the Veterans Home in King is getting a facelift.

06/04/2026

Did you miss our May program on Waupaca's Lost Indigenous Mounds? Check it out online, thanks to the City of Waupaca! You can watch Zachary Bishop's program here: https://youtu.be/ESXe66v5OU4?si=wIpE0Ni5eiy2UM3s.

Our past programs are also available online on our website at https://www.waupacahistoricalsociety.org/videos. Check them out!

06/03/2026

Check out the new exhibit at the Bandstand in downtown Waupaca!

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, the Waupaca Historical Society Waupaca has partnered with the Waupaca Area Public Library on the exhibit, "Waupaca Serves:
A Story of Waupaca's Veterans and the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King." The exhibit is on display around the Bandstand now and will be up all summer! Learn more about how Waupaca served our country through the years and how the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King has served these veterans for almost 140 years!

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Waupaca High School's Class of 2026!
Did you know the first high school commencement in Waupaca took place 150 years ago? On Friday evening, June 16, 1876, 10 graduates gathered at Stetson's Hall on South Main Street (in the back left of the photograph from 1870, today where Antiques on Main is located) to celebrate. The class's motto was "To Live is not enough; We ought to live well." The article here is from June 22, 1876 and tells the details of the first commencement program.

05/29/2026

It’s official!

On Thursday, May 28, the Waupaca Historical Society signed an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to oversee the preservation and public access of the historic Commandant’s House at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

Built in 1888 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Commandant’s House is an important part of our area’s history. The Historical Society will work to preserve and restore the building while sharing the stories of the veterans and community connected to it.

Interested in visiting? The Commandant’s House will be open following the Chain Skiers water ski shows this summer, with more events and open houses planned in the future. We hope to see you there!

05/27/2026

A new chapter in local history begins this Thursday (tomorrow!) at King!

Join us on Thursday, May 28 at 4 PM at the Commandant's House at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King for the official signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Waupaca Historical Society and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, marking the transition of the historic Commandant House into a public site for tours and education.

As part of this partnership, the Waupaca Historical Society will work to preserve and restore the historic Commandant’s House so future generations can continue to learn from and enjoy this important landmark.

Following the ceremony on Thursday, Wisconsin Veterans Museum Director Chris Kolakowski will present at the Marden Center on the history of King and Wisconsin’s role in America250. Refreshments will be served.

We’re honored to be part of preserving and sharing this important piece of Wisconsin history with the community. Be sure to join us!