The Neenah Historical Society has a variety of educational offerings available. We welcome school groups, home schoolers, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, adult education groups, and anyone else who is interested in history. No group is too small! We strive to develop programs that are adaptable to a wide range of learning levels and support educational goals. When scheduling a museum visit or other program, please consider the following:

Reservations are required for all programs.
Please bring one chaperone for every eight school age students.
If your group is larger than 10 participants, please schedule your visit at least two weeks prior to the program date to allow staff to arrange volunteer help.
It is preferable to schedule groups larger than 30 participants during warmer weather as our indoor space is limited. We have a large outdoor area available for picnic lunches and other activities.

Our current program offerings are listed in detail below. Once you find the program that meets your needs, please complete the Program Inquiry Form or call us at 920-729-0244. If you have questions about the programs, feel free to give us a call or contact us via email at neenahhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. We look forward to creating a great educational experience for you and your group.

Neenah Historical Society Program Inquiry

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone

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Describe your group to us, including organization name, age/grade, number of participants, and any other information you want us to know about your group.

What programs are you interested in scheduling?

What questions do you have about the Neenah Historical Society's educational programming?

We will contact you after we receive your request. When is a good time to call?

Museum Tours

Tours of the Hiram Smith Octagon House exhibitions are always free. Exhibition tours are led by Neenah Historical Society staff and volunteer docents and the amount of time spent in the galleries depends on the age of the tour participants. We are able to include hands-on experiences or allow for a more self guided experience if desired. Are you curious about the inner workings of the Neenah Historical Society? We are happy to include a visit to the Ward House to learn about our research library and what we do to share Neenah's history.

History Connects WorkshOP

The History Connects Workshop is designed to offer a focused exploration of a particular aspect of life in Neenah's earlier years. The workshop strives to connect aspects of a participant's modern life to comparable historic subject matter, strengthen connections in our community, and encourage connections to other ways of thinking. The workshop runs approximately 90 minutes and includes hands-on activities that stimulate different learning styles. The workshop is free for school and youth groups. Group size is dependent on the age and learning level of participants but we are flexible and will help you determine the best structure for your group.

History's Mysteries: Detecting our Past

Using historic photographs of Neenah, participants use their observation skills to solve "mysteries" in the photographs. After investigating the photograph thoroughly, they are able to then explore an evidence packet that offers supporting information, answering their questions and solving the mystery. Partnering with the Neenah Historical Society for this program is the Neenah Police Department who join the program to discuss the commonalities of crime scene investigation and historical research. This workshop encourages skills of observation to learn about the past using primary source material.

Traveling History Trunks

Our four Traveling History Trunks are filled with items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries which students are allowed to handle and examine to get a different kind of historical education. The trunks encourage students to be treasure hunters and history detectives as they learn about a life that can be both foreign and familiar at the same time. Each trunk has a different theme (school, toys, household items, and personal items) and are available for teachers to check out and explore with their students, or if you would rather, we are happy to bring the trunks to your classroom and lead the conversation. Our Traveling History Trunks are made possible through the support of the Rhoades Foundation of Neenah.

Everyone Loves a Field Trip!

Who says that field trips are only for students? We welcome all lifelong learners who wish to explore what the Neenah Historical Society has to offer. Adult social clubs, family reunions, bus tours - we are happy to offer all our educational programming to all groups. No group is too small!