RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1899
RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1899
RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1899
RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1899
RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1899
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WELCOME TO THE RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Known throughout the nation as the birthplace of the Republican Party,
Ripon’s history includes so much more.

The Ripon Historical Society was founded in 1899 and we invite you to browse our website,
visit us, like us on Facebook, or become a member.

President's Letter & Annual Report

In 2024, we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Ripon Historical Society, the oldest continually operating local historical society in Wisconsin. I’m happy to say that 2023 has been a good year for the Ripon Historical Society, and we enter our anniversary in good shape, strong, dynamic, financially sound, and forward-looking.

OUR MISSION

Our mission has always been the discovery, collection, preservation and publication of Ripon’s unique place in both Wisconsin and the nation.

ABOUT THE RIPON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Ripon was known in the early days as “The Prairie City” as it was located on the northern edge of the largest open prairie in Wisconsin. A massive oak tree, known as the “Signal Oak” was a landmark that could be seen for miles. The Butte des Morts Native American trail crossed through Ripon on its way from Green Lake to Oshkosh. This prairie area which had a creek for water power, trees for building and land vast enough to establish farming, became what we now know as Ripon.

The earliest settlers to Ripon were Northerners from New York and New England. First came the Wisconsin Phalanx and their Ceresco settlement which was later absorbed into Ripon. The next arrivals were speculators purchasing tracts of land at a low cost for development. That led to a migration of others to this area.

At the Ripon Historical Society, we share and preserve the stories and artifacts from our early settlers through life in Ripon today. We invite you to learn about our captivating history.