Celebrating 50 Years

Join Us for the Celebration

Friday, June 26th, Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th, 2026

For five decades, Wilson Place has preserved and shared the stories of Menomonie’s lumber-era legacy — honoring the families, architecture, and innovation that shaped our community.

In 1976, the Dotseth Family and members of our community came together to preserve this remarkable home. Their dedication ensured that future generations could experience Menomonie’s history in a meaningful and personal way.

For fifty years, Wilson Place has welcomed visitors, students, researchers, and families — offering guided tours, educational programming, and memorable community events.

This anniversary is not only a celebration of a building — it is a celebration of the people who cared enough to preserve it.

The 50th Anniversary weekend will feature:

• Historical tours throughout the day
• Ice cream and nostalgic treats on the lawn
• The 1927 Popcorn Truck
• The Circus Bell Wagon
• The Wilson Place Time Capsule Experience
• Make a Custom Button
• Live music
• Family-friendly activities
• Old-fashioned outdoor games
• Story sharing & a community memory board

A Weekend of Celebration

Join us June 26–28, 2026, for a special three-day celebration filled with history, music, family activities, tours, and community memories.

Friday, June 26

- Mansion Tours – Buy Tickets
- New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour – Buy Tickets
- Dinner, Music & Memories: Celebrating 50 Years of Wilson Place – Buy Tickets
- 1927 Popcorn Truck
- Button Making
- Paint the Wilson Place Art Project
- Community Story Board
- Time Capsule Experience

Saturday, June 27 – Kids & Family Day

Amateur Radio Field Day Demonstrations – 9AM to 5pm- For More Info
Mansion Tours -Starts at Noon – Buy Tickets
New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour – Buy Tickets
Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Afternoon Tea – Buy Tickets
White Pine Ramblers Band – 2:30PM
Old-Fashioned Games
Ice Cream Sundaes
Popcorn Truck
Community Art Activities
Time Capsule Experience – Starts at noon

Sunday, June 28

Mansion Tours – Buy Tickets
New Tour – Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour – Buy Tickets
Wilson Place 50th Anniversary Afternoon Tea – Buy Tickets
Ice Cream Sundaes
Popcorn Truck
Community Story Sharing
Final Opportunity to Participate in the Time Capsule Project

Introducing a New Tour Experience

As part of the anniversary celebration, visitors will have an opportunity to experience a brand-new specialty tour:

Below the Mansion: A Working History Tour

Step beneath the mansion and discover the working spaces that supported life in Menomonie during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

This guided experience includes:

A recreated general store and hardware display
Historic woodworking equipment and craftsmanship projects
Logging and agricultural tools
Artifacts that tell the story of everyday work and innovation

Because of the unique spaces involved, tour groups are limited to just eight participants per tour, providing a more personal and interactive experience.

See the Schedule and buy your ticket today – Buy Tickets

Looking Forward Through the Time Capsule Project

The 2026 Time Capsule Experience

As part of our 50th Anniversary, we are inviting the community to participate in a special three-part Time Capsule project — preserving today’s voices for tomorrow.

More details will be shared soon, but here is a preview:

✨ 10-Year Capsule — Letter to Your Future Self

Participants will write a letter to themselves to be returned in 10 years.
Letters will be sealed in designated envelopes, addressed to a stable mailing address of their choice, and stamped for future delivery.

✨ 50-Year Capsule — Letter to Your Future Generation

Participants may write a letter to their family 50 years from now — or create a message intended for future generations of the community.
This capsule will capture hopes, reflections, and stories meant to bridge families across time.

✨ 100-Year Community Capsule — Letter to the Future

This capsule will be opened in 2126.
It will include historically relevant items reflecting life in 2026, along with letters written to the future Menomonie community.

Full instructions and participation guidelines will be provided in the Time Capsule Packets that will be sold in the Gift shop and the Time Capsule table at the 50th Anniversary.

Together, these three capsules will serve as a bridge between the past, present, and future.

The Next 50 Years

As we celebrate fifty years of preservation, we are also looking ahead — continuing educational programming, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring Wilson Place remains a vibrant historic site for generations to come.

History is not static — it lives through those who engage with it.

Since 1976, Wilson Place has stood as a testament to preservation, perseverance, and community pride.

We invite you to celebrate with us.

Thank You

The Wilson Place Museum exists because of the dedication of countless volunteers, donors, members, community partners, and visitors who have supported historic preservation over the past 50 years.

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite everyone—whether you have visited dozens of times or have never stepped through our doors—to join us in honoring the past and looking toward the future.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Wilson Place Museum’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Event Details

Dates: June 26–28, 2026
Location: Wilson Place Museum, Menomonie, Wisconsin

For tickets, schedules, and event updates, visit WilsonPlace.org.

Volunteer for the 50th Anniversary Celebration

Be Part of Something Special

Wilson Place has stood for fifty years because people cared enough to give their time, their energy, and their hearts.

As we prepare for this milestone celebration, we are inviting our community to step forward once again — to help us welcome guests, share stories, and create a joyful weekend for all generations.

Whether you can help for a few hours or the entire weekend, your presence makes a difference.