Due
to a small Archives staff and unanticipated
eventualities, patrons are urged to call ahead to verify
public hours for a given day or week.
TIPS ON RESEARCHING HISTORIC BUILDINGS
The Office of Historic Buildings documents and records Wisconsin’s
historic architecture. It also serves as the clearinghouse for
information on historic state architecture, and it funds local
history research to increase public awareness of the past. In
addition, it administers survey and inventory subgrants and provides
educational services. The address is:
The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) administers both the
National Register of Historic Places and the State Register of
Historic Places. These programs recognize properties that have
retained their historic character. Having property listed on these
registers provides tangible benefits to private property owners and
assists them in preserving their properties. Publicly owned
properties receive special protection and assistance. Both registers
can be accessed at the following WHS website:
This website also answers commonly asked questions about listing
properties on the registers. It covers subjects such as the benefits
of listing a property on the registers and the eligibility criteria
for being included on them.
The WHS has compiled historical and architectural information on
more than 110,000 historic buildings and structures throughout
Wisconsin including houses, round barns, cast iron bridges,
commercial buildings, and log houses. The Wisconsin
Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) Search Engine is
available at:
This site also includes helpful hints on doing research in its
Guide to Researching Old Buildings.
The WHS Historic Places website also offers information on how-to
preserve historic buildings on its Frequently Asked Technical
Questions page. Topics covered range from accessibility for the
disabled and caring for a log cabin to cleaning and tuck pointing
old brick houses. The WHS Historic Places Frequently
Asked Technical Questions page is available at:
