About The Museum
The Mishicot Historical Museum is located in a former one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Randolph and Buchanan Streets in Mishicot.
Inside, you’ll find a large collection of artifacts and photographs significant to the history and culture of Mishicot and surrounding rural communities. Museum exhibits depict scenes of village industry, farm life, early education in Manitowoc County, and Mishicot’s Native American origins. The museum also maintains a vast collection of research and reference materials accessible by appointment.
Admission is free. The museum is staffed by volunteers, and ongoing preservation work and building maintenance is supported by your generous donations.
Museum History
The present-day museum building was constructed in 1873 to serve as a schoolhouse and was originally located near the corner of Rockway and Elizabeth Streets. In 1905, it was moved up the hill to its current location to make way for a larger, brick schoolhouse. The museum building became the Mishicot Town Hall and was later used for storage.
In 1988, The Mishicot Area Growth and Improvement Committee’s (M.A.G.I.C) Thematic Committee developed a plan to create a historical museum in service of preserving Mishicot’s heritage for today and tomorrow.
Throughout 1989 and 1990, a large group of volunteers helped make the museum dream a reality by lovingly restoring the old schoolhouse.
Original volunteers included: George Schmidt, Lila and Delmar Dvorak, Grace Schleis, Richard Baugniet, James Bydalek, Marvin Fleck, Richard Heyroth, Jeanette Heyroth, Kenneth Howey, Vic Jerabek, Roger Kadow, George Krause, Gale Kronforst, Bill LaRose, Norman Lorenz, Beth Loveless, Tony Marcelle, Tony Pietroske, Carol and Jack Ronning, Scott Smith, Stanley Stelzer, Lloyd and Marcella Straka, Ruth Zarling, Danny Zipperer, the Mishicot Jaycees, and many others.
Significant portions of the museum’s permanent collection were donated by Roy Schmidt of Two Rivers and George Schmidt of Mishicot. The museum’s original cupola, long ago removed, was rebuilt, and a replacement bell was salvaged from the LaSalle School. A grand opening was held on May 26, 1990.
Over the past three decades, the museum has hosted countless thousands of visitors and played a key role in annual village events like Pumpkinfest.
For many years, the museum hosted “Christmas at the Museum,” a treasured tradition featuring a giant, extensively decorated Christmas tree, local musicians, and plenty of decorated cookies.
Catalyzed by Jim Sustman, Mishicot reestablished a connection to the Hannahville Potawatomi and ancestors of Chief Abraham Meshigaud, the village’s namesake.
The museum has hosted several bus trips to the Hannahville Indian Community to raise awareness of Mishicot’s Native American heritage.
Today, the museum continues to play a key role in preserving the history of Mishicot. In 2024, a generous grant from the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation made possible this website and the digital preservation of the museum’s historical photo collection.
Donations
The museum is happy to accept donations of historical artifacts, original photographs, paper documents, films, VHS tapes, cassettes, and digital collections specifically relevant to Mishicot and surrounding rural communities. To submit a donation request for consideration, please contact the museum and describe the items you’d like to donate.
Monetary donations are essential to maintaining the museum building, grounds, and collections. We value your support. To submit a monetary donation, please visit the museum or contact us.
A Look Inside
Visit Us
411 Buchanan Street Mishicot, WI 54228
The museum is open on summer weekends from 1–4 p.m. and by appointment.
To schedule a visit, call Gale Kronforst at (920) 676-4097 or Pam Kronforst at (920) 639-8795.
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Mishicot Historical Museum 