Last updated: 8/15/2017
Wautoma, Wisconsin
Street Address
221 South Saint Marie Street
Wautoma, WI 54982
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 616
Wautoma, WI 54982
phone: 920-787-7584
fax: 920-787-7584
e-mail: wausharamuseum@yahoo.com
web: wausharamuseum.angelfire.com/wausharamuseum/

Hours

Wednesday
9 AM - 4 PM
Thursday
9 AM - 12 PM
Saturday
1 PM - 4 PM
Saturdays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May through the second Sat. in Dec.

Admissions

Donations keep us going and are encouraged.

Free. Donations Accepted.

Staff

Marvin Wagner Jr.
phone: 920-787-3034
Dee Dee Jakubowski
phone: 920-787-7584
Carol Wagner
phone: 920-787-3034
Bruce Runnels
phone: 920-787-3033
Description

The Museum is located in the old county jail, which was built in 1908. The sheriff and his family lived in the front and prisoners in the back. It includes a school room, bed rooms, kitchen, county store, jail cells, doctors' room, dispatcher's office, haunted attic, music room, parlor, war room, research room containing obituary & court case indexes, obituaries, genealogy & area history, 5 online computers, archives containing old court cases, newspapers, photos & glass negatives.

There is a thrift shop located in the jail section. The museum is open for research in the basement on Wed. and Thur. 9 a.m.-12 noon. Tours are given Wed. 1-4 p.m. Tours are given Wed. & Sat. 1-4 p.m. Tours take approximately 1 hour, so arrive by 3 p.m.

Photocopies of obituaries and other items can be made for 50 cents each at the museum. Scans of available obituaries can be e-mailed or postal mailed for $3.00 per page.

We also have a genealogy center at the Wautoma Public Library with ancestry.com available on the computer. Historic interviews and Waushara history cassettes can be listened to at the library genealogy center. CD copies of these tapes are available for checkout at the library. Membership forms and current newsletters are available at the museum during open hours.

History

This Georgian Revival was designed by architect C. H. Williams. It was built in 1908 and first used the county jail with the sheriff's living quarters in front. In 1979 the building became a public museum. It houses so many woonderful artifacts and is a hidden treasure. There is a research room in the basement.

Artifact Collections

Items from Waushara County, WI

Research Collections

Obituary index for Waushara County cemeteries lists obituaries for those buried in Waushara County. We have lots of obituaries including those who have lived in Waushara County but aren't necessarily buried there. Many family trees and scrapbooks of Waushara County communities.

Plat maps
Historic area photos
Obituary collection
Cemetary Record collection
Photo/article archive
1930s and later directories
Courtcase files
Local genealogies collection
Waushara Civil War collection
Educational Programs
Genealogy Sessions at the Wautoma Public Library

Genealogy sessions will be held on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. for those interested in learning about what we have at the library and on the genealogy computer. We want to get to know what questions you may have and what you need help with. Learn about free websites, and where to find information to help your family research. Beginners and experienced genealogists of all ages are invited. Our genealogist will get to know what you need help with and what lessons to have ready. If you have any questions you may contact Bruce Runnels at the museum on Wednesdays from 8 to 11 a.m. at 920-787-7584, or e-mail wausharamuseum@yahoo.com.

Facilities

The museum is the former Waushara County Jail.

Performance Areas
Governance

We have a 9 member board of directors.

Library

We have internet access to Ancestry.com and other paid websites. We also have access to obituaries of people that may not be buried in the county but may have been affiliated with Waushara at one time. A master list of burials in all of the Waushara county cemeteries is also available. This listing gives the name of the deceased along with the cemetery the deceased is buried in. We are continuously updating our records.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

A newsletter is usually published quarterly.

Services
Group tours

Group tours are available to school children by appointment in advance.

Searching family records

We are able to assist you in searching family records, setting up family books, organizing your records and more! Working on your family tree? We can help. We are always busy working on additions to our records. Stop in and see what we have or what can do to help. We are always looking for additions to our family files. Have you added your's yet?

Gift Shop
Group Tours
ADA
Parking
Restrooms
Exhibitions
Museum Events
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

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Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

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Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

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2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

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2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

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