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Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites
In November
2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation presented this
prestigious award to
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America "for acquiring,
restoring, and interpreting a collection of historic properties that offer
invaluable opportunities to experience the rich variety of America's
heritage."
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NSCDA in Wisconsin Museum Properties
The NSCDA in the State of Wisconsin is actively involved with two museum
properties: Kilbourntown House in Milwaukee and the
Historic
Indian Agency House in Portage.
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KILBOURNTOWN HOUSE
(1844)
Address:
Estabrook Park,
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Telephone:
(414) 273-8288
(Milwaukee County Historical Society)
Open:
Last weekend in June to Labor
Day, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10::00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Directions:
From I-94, take US 43 North.
Exit at East Capitol Drive. Go east to Estabrook Park. After
about 1 block, turn left into parking lot.
Website:
http://www.milwaukeecountyhistsoc.org/homes.html
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Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik
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The house was built by Benjamin
Church, pioneer carpenter and master builder. It is an excellent
example of temple-type Greek Revival architecture, popular in New York
State at the time Mr. Church moved to Wisconsin. The name, Kilbourntown,
comes from the pioneer community in which it was located west of the Milwaukee
River.
In 1938, the building had fallen
into disrepair and was about to be demolished. Because of its unusual
construction, use of hand-hewn posts, timbers of oak and elm, and an inner
wall of brick dating back to 1844, it was opened to the public in 1972,
furnished from private collections of outstanding mid-century furniture
and decorative art.
The National Society of The Colonial
Dames of America in the State of Wisconsin is responsible for this historical
presentation.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
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HISTORIC INDIAN AGENCY HOUSE
(1832)
Address:
Agency House Road
Mailing Address:
Historic Indian Agency House
P. O. Box 84,
Portage, WI 53901
Telephone:
(608)
742-6362
Open:
May 15 through October 15,
Monday through Saturday:
10
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m.
Closed:
October 16 through May 14 tours are
available by appointment when scheduled in advance. Call (608)742-6362 and leave
a message.
Directions:
Portage is 173 miles north of Chicago,
98 miles northwest of Milwaukee, 37 miles north of Madison and 15 miles east of
Wisconsin Dells. Indian Agency House is 1 mile east of downtown Portage off
Highway 33, at the end of Agency Road, also known as Rustic Road 69.
Websites:
http://www.ccedc.com/fun/history/agencyhouse
/agencyhouse.asp
http://www.valuworld.com/usa/wi/supermall/County/Columbia
/columbiatourism/history/indianagency_house.htm
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Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik
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The Historic Indian Agency House was built in 1832 by the United States
Government for the Indian Agent to the Ho-Chunk Nation (Winnebago), John
Harris Kinzie and his wife, Juliette Magill Kinzie.
The Agency House is of the late federal style and one
of Wisconsin's earliest houses. It is built of milled lumber, rather
than the log construction that was used in the region at that time.
The Agency House is furnished with American antiques no
later than 1833, which was the year the Kinzies left for Chicago.
Juliette wrote Wau-Bun, The Early Day in the Northwest
about their time at Fort Winnebago, the Agency House and the portage, as
well as their relationship with the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago). John and
Juliette were grandparents of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl
Scouts.
The Agency House and 233 acres are owned and administered
by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of
Wisconsin. An archeological dig was done in 1988-89. A handicap accessible
portion of the Ice Age
trail has been developed along the Portage Canal in a partnership between
the Ice Age
Trail, Wisconsin DNR, Portage Canal Society and the Colonial Dames. An
additional portion of the trail is also on Agency House property.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES |
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