Did You Know Port Washington Was Founded Before Milwaukee?

The Port Washington Historical Society’s 2nd annual Dinner will be held at on Nov. 5. This year the society will be honoring veterans and, in particular, those who have lost a family member while he or she was serving our country — from the Civil War to Desert Storm/Enduring Freedom. 

This will be a “red, white and blue” veterans’ night. The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and a chance to browse and bid on the silent auction items.  Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and our program, with a guest speaker from the Honors Flight project, will start at 7 p.m. Musical entertainment by the Brennan Totten duo will be provided throughout the evening. Tickets are $40/person.  Reservations can be made by calling Kathie at 262-268-9734 or the Historical Society Office at 262-268-9150.

You don't need to be a member of the society to attend this dinner — it is a great way to get a glimpse into what the society is all about and learn a little more about the history of the citizens of Port Washington. 

From a personal note I can attest first-hand to how enriching my membership has been. I grew up in Port Washington, attended the parochial and public schools of this city, but never knew our city’s rich history until becoming a member of the society. Over the past six years, I have learned many fascinating facts. 

For instance, did you know that at one time Port Washington had more ante-bellum (pre-Civil War) houses than any other city in Wisconsin?  Did you know that we were founded several months before the city of Milwaukee?  Did you know about the great Wisconsin Chair Factory fire of 1899 that almost destroyed over three blocks of the downtown? 

And another significant fact: Our ancestors waged a Civil War draft protest in 1862 that is recorded as the second largest protest to the draft in all of the U.S. — the first being in New York City! 

Membership in the society has not only been an education for me, it has also been an opportunity to share this history with others. We have created an outstanding museum at our , offering tours from May through October on Saturdays and Sundays. We have created a walking tour of historic downtown Port Washington. We have developed educational programs to expand local school curriculum to include Port Washington history, and we provide the “heritage” portion of the Maritime Heritage Festival each year. 

These are just a few of our accomplishments. Our mission is to preserve local history and provide enriching educational opportunities for all and we welcome new members who would like to join in this mission. For information, contact our office at 262-268-9150.