Heritage Hill State Historical Park

Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Wisconsin State Park
250px Park sign
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Brown
Location	Allouez, Wisconsin
- coordinates
Area	48 acres (19 ha)
Founded	1972
Management	Heritage Hill Foundation
IUCN category	V - Protected Landscape/Seascape
Website: Heritage Hill State Historical Park

Heritage Hill State Historical Park, also called Heritage Hill State Park, is a 48-acre (19 ha) open-air museum in Allouez near Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States. A Wisconsin state park, the site is operated by a non-profit organization called the Heritage Hill Foundation in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Heritage Hill Corporation operates, maintains and develops the park under terms of a lease with the DNR.

The site contains more than 30 historical structures, mostly endangered historic buildings moved from other locations plus a few modern reconstructions. The structures include log cabins from the fur trade era, buildings from Fort Howard, and stores and public buildings from the late 19th century.

Live historic interpreters, wearing period style clothing, populate the park during summer operations.

History

Previously the property was used as a prison farm with orchards tended by prison labor. Construction of a new bridge across the Fox River cut off the farm from the prison and the land fell under the jurisdiction of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In 1972 the DNR Natural Resources Board approved the establishment of a historical park. In a meeting held at Cotton House on July 18, 1972 the name Heritage Hill State Historical Park was chosen for the new historic site. At the same time a proposed development plan and an opening date of May 1, 1977 was selected. Over the next 20 years more than 25 buildings and 15 acres of land were added to the park. Preservation of the buildings and its artifacts and the interpretation of the history of Northeastern Wisconsin and its people remains a primary objective.

Collections

Heritage Hill has more than 6,600 artifacts in its collection, mostly displayed in the buildings. Some of this collection is on loan from the Green Bay-De Pere Antiquarians, Brown County Historical Society, and Wisconsin Historical Society. The collection includes original artwork, books, clothing and furnishings dating from the 17th century to present. One unique piece in displayed in the Tank Cottage is a hand-painted screen that the Tank family brought with them when they moved to Wisconsin in the late 1600s. Heritage Hall, located in the Education Center features rotating displays of items not able to be shown in buildings.

Education Center

In 2006 the new Betsy Hendrickson and Lucyanna Hitch Education Center was constructed. The center allows year-round use for education programs as well as business meetings, receptions, and parties. Education programs draw about 18,000 students per year. Students acquire a first hand look at how their early relatives worked and played. The programs meet benchmarks and standards in history and social studies.

List of structures

Six of the site's structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park's Belgian Farmstead and Moravian church were listed on the National Register but were delisted upon being relocated. Seven other buildings in the park collection are modern replicas constructed on-site.

Structure name and location	Image	Original location	Original build date	Moved to park	Construction/style/notes
Allouez Town Hall	100px	2143 South Webster, Allouez	1912	1977	Wood framed with gable roof
Baird Law Office		Main and Monroe Green Bay	1835	1975	Greek Revival Listed on the NRHP in 1970 (#70000025)
Bark Chapel	100px	Constructed on site	1981	N/A	Sapling framework with bark covering, replica of the first church in Wisconsin which was about 1 mile south of its location
Belgian Farmstead Farmhouse	100px	Rosiere	1872	1984	Log with brick veneer Listed on the NRHP as the Massart Farmstead (#80000143) but was removed in 1984.
Belgian Farmstead Dairy Barn		Rosiere	1900	1984	Log/astylistic utilitarian
Belgian Farmstead Horse Barn	100px	Rosiere	1900	1984	Log/astylistic utilitarian
Belgian Farmstead chicken coop		Rosiere	1872	1984	Log/astylistic utilitarian
Belgian Farmstead pig house		Rosiere	1872	1984	Log/astylistic utilitarian
Belgian Farmstead outhouse	100px	Rosiere	1872	1984	Astylistic utilitarian
Belgian Farmstead summer kitchen		Rosiere	1902	1984	Cut stone
Belgian Farmstead Roadside Chapel	100px	Duvall	1871	1983	Wood frame
Belgian Farmstead windmill	100px	Duvall	1871	1983	Metal
Blacksmith Shop	100px	Danz and University Green Bay	1850	1976	Wood frame
Cheese Factory	100px	Slovan	1894	1994	Wood framed
Cotton House	100px	Beaupre and Webster Green Bay	1845	1938	Timber frame/Greek Revival Listed on the NRHP in 1970 (#70000026)
Court House	100px	Door County	before 1814	1976	Full log with dovetail joints
Court House Monument	100px	At current location	1934		Stone and Mortar This monument marks the site of the first court house in 1825
Fort Howard Guard Building	100px	Kellogg and Chestnut Green Bay	1833	2014	Half of this structure is a restoration of the original guard building from the fort and half is a replica. The reconstruction in 2014 at the park was done in conjunction with renovations to the Commanding Officer's Quarters.
Fort Howard Hospital	100px	Kellogg and Chestnut Green Bay	1835	1975	Timber frame w/ clapboards/Federal Listed on the NRHP in 1979 (#71001075) Hospital was originally constructed as an addition to the Ward Building but they were split when they were moved in the 1930s. The reconstruction in 1975 at the park recombined the buildings.
Fort Howard Ward Building	100px	Kellogg and Chestnut Green Bay	1816	1975	Timber frame w/ clapboards/Federal Listed on the NRHP in 1979 (#72001547)
Fort Howard Post School	100px	Constructed on site	1982	N/A	Federal
Fort Howard Company Kitchen/Orderly Room	100px	Kellogg and Chestnut Green Bay	1816	1975	Federal - timber frame Listed on the NRHP in 1979 (#72001548) This structure is listed on the NRHP as Fort Howard Officer’s Quarters. The park currently interprets this building as the Kitchen/Orderly room.
Fort Howard Officer's Quarters	100px	Constructed on site	1982	N/A	Federal
Franklin Hose Company	100px	Main and Irwin Green Bay	1870	1975	Wood frame
Fur Trader's Cabin	100px	739 Adams St Green Bay	1810	1975	Pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse
Maple Sugaring House	100px	Constructed on site	1981	N/A	Log
Moravian Church	100px	Moravian St Green Bay	1842	1980	Timber framed Gothic Revival Listed on the NRHP in 1983 as the East Moravian Church (#72001588) but later delisted, date unknown.
Print Shop	100px	Constructed on site	1976	N/A	Wood framed
Tank Cottage	100px	On Fox River at 8th Street Green Bay	1776	1976	Pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse Listed on the NRHP in 1970 (#70000028). This building is the oldest standing house in Wisconsin
Tank barn		Constructed on site		N/A
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier		At current location	1938	N/A	Dry-stacked limestone
Victorian Bandstand	100px	Constructed on site	1982	N/A	Victorian
YMCA Library	100px	810 Chestnut St Green Bay	1872	1977	Wood framed w/ brick veneer/Greek Revival
Visitors center	100px	Constructed on site		N/A
Maintenance/restoration building		Constructed on site		N/A

See also

National Register of Historic Places listings in Brown County, Wisconsin

External links

• Heritage Hill State Historical Park official site