Beginnings of the
Sheboygan County Historical Research Center

The Sheboygan County Historical Research Center is an outgrowth of the need to have in one central location the documentation of Sheboygan County history.

Before the Research Center was established, this written history was located in various parts of the county – usually unavailable to the researcher.

In the early 1980s, members of Sheboygan County Historical Society, Sheboygan County Genealogy Society, and Sheboygan County Landmarks, Ltd. developed the concept of a local history archive dealing specifically with Sheboygan County history. The new organization formed was called Sheboygan County Historical Research.

The Research Center, with the help of an archivist, a librarian and many other volunteers, began in 1983 to organize and catalog this material. An official open house was held in January 1984 at 504 Broadway Street (the current Sheboygan Falls Chamber Main Street offices) in the Falls.

In 1986, Sheboygan County Landmarks Ltd., undertook the restoration the Mill House at 518 Water Street in Sheboygan Falls – the oldest standing building in the county. At the same time, larger quarters were needed to house the growing collections at the Research Center. Relocating the Center’s collections and archive to into the restored Mill House was a good example of repurposing a historic structure.

The Research Center moved into the nearly complete Mill House in September of 1987 and an open house was held in May of 1988. The Mill House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as part of the Cole Historic District on December 12, 1988.

The Research Center continues to grow and fill the restored Mill House nearly forty years later.