Victorian Tea Gala - Honoring Mayor Shawn Reilly
2026-04-08 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | WI
VICTORIAN TEA GALA – HONORING MAYOR SHAWN REILLY
Join us on Wednesday, April 8th, from 4-6pm at the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum for a one-of-a-kind celebration of Mayor Shawn Reilly. This elegant Victorian Tea Gala honors the mayor’s years of service while benefiting our museum. Enjoy afternoon tea, our newly opened Springs Exhibit, and a memorable gala experience.

Tables available now, individual seats soon.
Don’t miss this extraordinary event.
A WORD ON TEA

In the Victorian tradition, tea was never merely a beverage, but a ceremony—a pause in the day that invited conversation, civility, and connection. Guests will enjoy a classic afternoon tea, thoughtfully prepared and served with light fare, recalling the social rituals once enjoyed during Waukesha’s celebrated Springs era, when visitors and residents alike gathered to share refreshment and refined company.

HONORING MAYOR SHAWN REILLY
As he concludes his service to the City of Waukesha, we are proud to honor Mayor Shawn Reilly, who has served with clarity, resolve, and deep commitment since 2012. Known for his direct leadership and steady hand, Mayor Reilly guided the city through significant growth, infrastructure achievements, and community investment—always with a clear eye toward Waukesha’s future. This afternoon offers a fitting moment to reflect, celebrate, and offer our gratitude—with warmth, wit, and more than a touch of good humor.

Reserve your table or seat TODAY!

April 2026: History after Dark
2026-04-09 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
✨History after Dark✨
Copper in North America and Europe: An Exploration of the Importance of Copper in Prehistoric Wisconsin and Europe as well as Indigenous Practice
Globally, copper has been an important resource for people from now into Antiquity. Copper objects have been found by archaeologists from Southeast Asia to Britain and across the pond to our backyard in Wisconsin. This discussion will focus on the importance of copper and those who used it during the Old Copper Complex (~4,000-1,000 BCE) that spanned the western Great Lakes with its heart in Wisconsin, the Chalcolithic (~5,000-2,000 BCE) and Bronze Ages (~2,200-800 BCE) of western Europe, and the Potlatches of Indigenous groups in northwestern America and southwestern Canada.
Tim Piatek is a UW–Milwaukee graduate with a Master’s in Anthropology and a Certificate in Museum Studies. His thesis examined Old Copper Complex artifacts from Sheboygan County, drawing on collections housed at the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Sheboygan County Historical Society & Museum. He has also interned and volunteered at many museums across Wisconsin, gaining extensive hands-on experience in collections care and museum administration.
Admission is $10, $8 for WCHSM Members. Seating is limited to 40 guests, with additional standing room available.
You can purchase tickets three ways: 1) Call the museum at (262) 521-2859, 2) purchase tickets from greeter during museum open hours, or 3) buy tickets online

May 2026 Lunch and Learn: America’s Supreme Dessert: The Rise and Fall of Jiffy-Jell
2026-05-12 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Tuesday, May 12th 2026|11:30AM-12:30 PM
One of the most simple and popular desserts in American households is gelatin, in which the brand JELL-O has almost become synonymous with the ingredient. Over a hundred years ago, the city of Waukesha was home to a brand named Jiffy-Jell, which rivaled JELL-O and other companies as the top gelatin dessert manufacturer in the country. However, Jiffy-Jell’s commercial success was quickly met with internal struggles that led to their rapid decline.
Adam Tredeau is a 2024 graduate of Carroll University and is currently working at Aries Industries. He started volunteering with the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum in 2023, joining the Board of Directors in 2024. He has contributed to the Society’s Landmark Magazine, helping share and preserve the history of Waukesha County. Adam is passionate about Waukesha history and furthering the Museum’s mission of discovering the past, embracing the present, and shaping the future.
Tickets: $28 – includes a box lunch from Rochester Deli – NON-MEMBER, $25 – includes a box lunch from Rochester Deli – MEMBER, $10 – Program Ticket ONLY
Rochester Deli’s box lunches include a sandwich, chips, and a dessert (water will be provided). All sandwiches are on multi-grain bread* with leaf lettuce, tomato, with mayo and brown mustard on the side. Sandwich options include: turkey, roast beef, ham, chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, and grilled veggies.
How to purchase tickets: 1) call the museum during open hours, 2) purchase a ticket from the front desk during open hours, or 3) buy tickets HERE.
Who can I contact for more information? Give us a call at 262-521-2859 and ask to speak to someone about Lunch & Learn.
What if I need to cancel my order? Rochester Deli needs the lunch order by the Friday before the Lunch & Learn date. While you could cancel after that date, we will not issue a refund if you ordered a meal.
Refund Policy – Contact the organizer to request a refund.

FREE DAY!
2026-06-06 | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
🎸✨Celebrate Les Paul’s Birthday With Us! ✨🎸 We’re throwing open the doors for a FREE day at the museum, and you’re invited. Come explore, play, discover, and enjoy a day with treats, activities, and crafts dedicated to the Wizard of Waukesha himself. Stop by and join the fun!

June 2026- History after Dark
2026-06-11 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
✨History after Dark✨
War on Western Waters: USS Eastport and the Civil War navy on the Mississippi
While many are familiar with the iconic duel of the Monitor and the Merrimac at the Battle of Hampton Roads, far fewer are aware of the Union Navy’s critical role in the western theater and its connections to Wisconsin. To disrupt the Confederacy’s vital trade network along the Mississippi River, the Union Navy undertook the construction of a specialized riverine fleet designed to operate in this challenging environment. This presentation examines the development of the Union’s “brown water” navy, their strategic deployment in western campaigns, and its connections to Wisconsin through the experience of a young sailor serving aboard the USS Eastport.
Christian Jensen has been working for the Milwaukee County Historical Society for over three and half years, becoming a full-time Educator in 2025. He holds a Master of Public History degree and a certification in Museum Studies. In his role as an Educator at MCHS, Christian teaches elementary school Hands on History, organizes family friendly museum events, and manages Trimborn Farm. Throughout his academic career, Christian has held a deep interest in the naval side of the American Civil War, particularly in the Western theater and its connections to the Midwest.
Admission is $10, $8 for WCHSM Members. Seating is limited to 40 guests, with additional standing room available.
Purchase tickets online, calling the museum, or walk-in hours.

Buchnerfest
2026-06-13 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
We will have free crafts and a Discovery Box available for any children or adults attending! We hope to see you there.

Guitar Town Music Festival
2026-06-13 12:00 - 19:00 UTC | Cutler Park, Cutler Park, Downtown Waukesha, WI
The Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum is excited to be part of the Guitar Town Music Festival on June 13th. We’ll be sharing a special, personalized exhibition that highlights Les Paul’s life, his Waukesha roots, and the groundbreaking musical innovations that changed sound forever.
One of the highlights of our display will be a reproduction of Les Paul’s original log guitar—the instrument that helped spark a revolution in modern music.
If you’d like to explore more of Les Paul’s story and legacy, we’d love to welcome you to the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum.

July 2026 Lunch and Learn: Ancient Grains
2026-07-14 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Ancient Grains: Pre-Columbian Foods of the Central and South Americas
Through the examination of dietary staples such as maize, manioc, and potatoes, a unique window into the pre-Columbian world of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca can be found. Supported by proteins and produce, familiar dishes such as Pozole and Champurrado, or sweet treats such as Alegria reveal how religious beliefs across communities were informed by food and flavor. These familiar tastes in turn shaped indigenous world views and speaks to the interconnected nature of the central and south-American peoples.
Emily Barker is a dedicated public historian specializing in the intersection of food and culture. She believes food is a vital component to our cultural identity, and a powerful connector between people across time. In the museum, it acts as a bridge between generations and cultures, encourages critical thinking around one’s heritage, and builds community through unique stories.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, having double majored in History and Religious Studies. She completed her Museum Studies Certificate in May of 2026, and has begun work on her Masters’ thesis: a comparative analysis among three historical cookbooks. It analyzes the role of recipes as contemporary artifacts and investigates how recipes produce important windows into cultural and historical events.
Tickets: $28 – includes a box lunch from Rochester Deli – NON-MEMBER, $25 – includes a box lunch from Rochester Deli – MEMBER, $10 – Program Ticket ONLY
Rochester Deli’s box lunches include a sandwich, chips, and a dessert (water will be provided). All sandwiches are on multi-grain bread* with leaf lettuce, tomato, with mayo and brown mustard on the side. Sandwich options include: turkey, roast beef, ham, chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, and grilled veggies.
How to purchase tickets: 1) call the museum during open hours, 2) purchase a ticket from the front desk during open hours, or 3) buy tickets HERE.
Who can I contact for more information? Give us a call at 262-521-2859 and ask to speak to someone about Lunch & Learn.
What if I need to cancel my order? Rochester Deli needs the lunch order by the Friday before the Lunch & Learn date. While you could cancel after that date, we will not issue a refund if you ordered a meal.
Refund Policy – Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Phantom Lake: 130 Years of Impacting Waukesha County Kids and Families
2026-08-12 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Join us August 12th at 5:30 for a special presentation hosted by Jeff Spang and Phantom Lake YMCA!
Phantom Lake: 130 Years of Impacting Waukesha County Kids and Families

Phantom Lake YMCA Camp, the oldest YMCA camp in North America, this year marks it’s 130th anniversary in Waukesha County. Founded in 1896 on 10 acres along the shores of Phantom Lake in Mukwonago, the camp has survived two World Wars, two pandemics and more, shaping generations through programs that build confidence, leadership, belonging, and a lifelong love of the outdoors. During the early years, Phantom Lake YMCA Camp functioned as an all-boys camp for decades. It opened a dedicated girls camp in 1931 and eventually introduced co-ed sessions in 1976. A pivotal moment in it’s modern history occurred in 1985, when alumni and community members purchased the property from Waukesha YMCA to establish Phantom Lake YMCA Camp as an independent camp. Today, the camp has expanded to 72 acres. Join us for 130 years of history through the prism of summer camp. Learn how Phantom Lake YMCA Camp has adapted to survive when many other summer camps are closing.

Jeff Spang, Phantom Lake YMCA Camp CEO

For 20 years, Jeff Spang has served kids, families, and the greater Waukesha community as Phantom Lake YMCA Camp CEO. The organization’s financial stewardship and fiscal responsibility has provided more than 400 scholarships for children of diverse backgrounds and abilities to attend Phantom Lake YMCA Camp. Spang is deeply committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to experience the life-changing impact of a week at camp. These scholarships support special accommodations for kids with a variety of challenges, including kids whose parents are experiencing financial distress.
Ticket pricing:

Museum Members: $8
Non-members: $10

You can purchase tickets through Humantix (Link below) or reserve a seat by calling our museum!
https://events.humanitix.com/phantom-lake-130-years-of-impacting-waukesha-county-kids-and-families

August 2026 History After Dark
2026-08-13 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Come join us for our History After Dark in August!
Behind Enemy Lines? German Prisoners-of-War and German-American Communities
Often, accounts of and reflections on World War II keep the division across the Atlantic binary. There were Americans, and there were Germans, identities separated from one another especially as the atrocities of the Third Reich continued to come light. But what about those Americans with German ancestry witnessing the current events of their time? Or those Germans captured in battle, navigating the life of a prisoner-of-war and a new land? Their experiences represent a more realistic view of the conflict between identities as American and German forces fought against one another. Charting the movement of German prisoners-of-war through the United States during and after the war sheds light on the power of identity and the notion of “home.” A German prisoner-of-war has just been freed from an American camp at which he spent years of his life: where will he go next? Hosted by Maria Scannell: Maria Scannell is a senior history student at Carroll University interested in local and German history. She won the 2026 Pioneer Scholar Summer Research Scholarship, which is currently funding her first history research project. She plans to incorporate some of this work into the capstone paper which will complete her history degree. Ticket Information:

$8 Museum Members
$10 Non-Museum Members

You can purchase tickets through Humantix (Link below) or purchase tickets in person at the museum. You may also call to reserve your seat and pay at the door. https://events.humanitix.com/august-2026-history-after-dark

Cushing Elementary 5th Graders Celebrate America's 250
2026-09-01 | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Each year, the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum partners with Cushing Elementary’s 5th Graders to explore the American Revolution. Students learn about a topic and how to make exhibits in their very own museum! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, a number of their exhibits will be on display for the entire summer. Stop in and explore these cute and informative exhibitions through September.

September 2026 Lunch and Learn
2026-09-08 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum, 101 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI, 53186, United States
Join us for our monthly Lunch and Learn at the museum this September!
Eyeball to Eyeball: How Personal Interests Shaped Cold War History in Waukesha and Around the World
70 years after the establishment of M-74 (Nike missile base) in Waukesha, Dr. Kimberly Redding will help us explore the complexity of Cold War policies. While the Soviet-U.S. rivalry stole the headlines, interpersonal calculations also shaped decisions – in Waukesha, the Oval Office, and Kremlin. Redding will share findings of research conducted for “Eyeball to Eyeball: the Cuban Missile Crisis” a live-action role-play game published by Central Michigan University Press in 2025.
Dr. Kimberly Redding, Carroll University
Dr. Redding is a faculty member in European and 20th-century history at Carroll University and also a former WCHSM board member. Her interest in Waukesha history began while chaperoning her sons’ 3rd grade bus tour of Springs Era sites across the city. Redding and her students regularly partner with the WCHSM to discover links between local people/places and global events.

Lunch orders are through Rochester Deli here in Waukesha. The lunch orders consist of your choice of sandwich, which includes a bag of chips and a cookie.
*Lunch orders must be placed by Friday, September 4th by 4:00 P.M.*
Lunch orders:

Sliced tavern ham sandwich
Roast turkey sandwich
Angus roast beef sandwich
Chicken breast salad sandwich
Tuna salad sandwich
Egg salad sandwich
Grilled veggie sandwich

Ticket pricing:

Ticket ONLY, no lunch: $10
Members with lunch order: $25
Non-members with lunch order: $28

You can order tickets in advance through our Humantix (Link below) or feel free to call/stop by our museum during operating hours and place a reservation.
https://events.humanitix.com/september-2026-lunch-and-learn
