About Us...


Our Campus
Kenosha County Historical Society is a campus of two buildings with four exhibit galleries, a gift shop, staff offices and our Archival facility. The Kenosha History Center houses the main offices, three exhibit galleries, the gift shop and our Archives. The Southport Light Station, located on top of the hill above the History Center building, will house the fourth gallery.

The Southport Light Station is composed of the 1866 historic lighthouse and the adjacent 1867 historic Lighthouse Keeper's home. The Lighthouse Keeper's home is currently being restored to a 1908 time period in preparation for a new lighthouse and maritime museum. The tentative grand opening for the Center's newest gallery will occur in Spring, 2008.



A Non-profit Corporation
The Kenosha History Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society. Portions of donations and event tickets may be tax-deductible, to the extent permitted by the Internal Revenue Service. Two-thirds of our operating budget comes from memberships, proceeds from events, donations and sales from our gift shop.



Our Mission
The Kenosha History Center collects and preserves artifacts, records and information vital to the understanding the history of the County's social, cultural, ethnic and industrial heritage since its settlement. The Center uses these materials, acting alone or in collaboration with other citizens and organizations, to disseminate knowledge of our collective local history through its museum, historic sites, research and outreach and publication programs for the benefit of the community and its visitors.



Our Goals

1. Preservation of our past to teach the future

2. Collection of artifacts to support our mission for the community

3. Cooperation with educators, community members and partners to deliver quality programming

4. Preservation of the public trust by operating in an ethical, professional and fiscally responsible manner