Founded in 1872 as a Pioneer Association, the Outagamie County Historical Society steadfastly preserves the history of the Fox Cities in east central Wisconsin. Now affectionately known as the History Museum at the Castle, due to our location in a former Masonic Temple, the organization is a thriving cultural institution with deep ties to the local community. At the History Museum, we continually seek to inspire people to discover and appreciate the rich history of the Fox Valley through exhibition, education, and collections. This mission has earned the museum a national reputation as a leader in the field, including the IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2018. The museum is conveniently located in downtown Appleton, which is consistently ranked among the best, most affordable, small cities in the nation.