Open Daily, Except Tuesdays
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
330 E. College Ave., Appleton, WI
920.735.9370
History Museum Collections Online
Click on a link below to see some of our collection available online.
Family History/Genealogy
The History Museum has limited archival materials related to family histories. Begin researching with digital resources available at the following organizations.
Research & Collections
Image Rights, Reproduction, and Use
Images from the collection are available for personal or commercial uses. All use of Museum collections are regulated through use agreements and a fee structure.
Thanks for considering the Museum as a location to preserve your collection or heirloom.
Click here to learn more about this process.
Researching at the Museum
The History Museum welcomes researchers, and can also perform research on an individual's behalf. Please read the following for more information about the research process:
- Please contact a curator (see contact info below) with your research topic or question, so we can assess if we have relevant research materials.
- We cannot accept drop-ins. Please schedule a research appointment at least 1 week in advance.
- Because of the number of requests we receive and our limited staff resources, we must charge a fee for our services. You may either schedule an appointment to come and do research on-site, or you may contract with us from off-site to do research on your behalf.
For inquiries, image use, or to schedule a research appointment contact:
Chief Curator Dustin Mack
dustin@myhistorymuseum.org
920-735-9370 x. 112.
The Museum holds artifacts and archival materials that document the social, cultural, economic and technological history of Appleton, the Lower Fox River Valley, and Outagamie County. International and national figures with ties to the area, such as Harry Houdini, are also represented with materials that shed light on their lives.
Altogether, the collection includes 20,000 3-D artifacts, 800 cubic feet of manuscripts, 2,000 volumes of published works, 350 maps, and over 500,000 photographs that document local history. Appleton has the strongest representation in the collection.Click here for more information about donating items to the collection.