Phase One of Heritage Center On Its Final Fundraising Push

The Eagle River Historical Society (ERHS) is making big strides forward, both in its mission to bring local history to life as well as become a trusted resource in the community. One of the biggest items on the society's upcoming agenda is closing out Phase One of the Choosing Growth Capital Campaign to expand its existing main campus museum, located on Highway 45 just south of town, into an inclusive Heritage Center.

Karen Sailer, former executive director of the ERHS, and Vito Bortolotti, current executive director, have been hard at work to raise nearly $1 million for Phase One of the center, and are getting closer to their goal. Thanks to a matching grant from the Tawani Foundation based in Chicago, along with the generosity of individuals and groups, Sailer expects they will be able to break ground in summer of 2026.

After hitting a few stumbling blocks along the way, ERHS has locked in designs with Funktion Studios based in Wausau to expand the footprint of the existing main museum campus, located on Highway 45 just south of Eagle River.

"We have nothing but praise for Funktion — they have been so creative and helpful," Sailer said of the company which has brought the longtime dream to life via renderings and blueprints. "This is going to be a community asset, it's not just for us (ERHS)," Sailer said of the project. Bortolotti agreed, expressing that it's a "privilege to be able to open this for the public."

The planned 2,540-square-foot addition will be built onto the existing campus, and provide much needed space to expand exhibits. Heritage promotion is one of the central philosophies of the expanded campus, and ERHS plans to open this space up for more routine hours, extensive research capabilities, and continued education of the area's history and heritage.

Sailer and Bortolotti are also looking forward to being able to enlarge the storage and archive locations to keep delicate historical artifacts safe in a climate-controlled space. Having a headquarters to hold the society's many programs, community outreach and events will also be a boon for the group, Bortolotti noted.

Inflation Hinders Design Plans

Although the original fundraising goal covered the entire cost of the project, inflation has driven building costs up significantly, forcing the ERHS to expand from the initial one big capital campaign into three phases.

"Some of the supplies and needed amenities have nearly tripled in cost since the original plans were made up, but Phase One will be the lions share," she said. "It'll be a usable space that can be opened to the public. It's just not going to be beautified."

Sailer has no worries they'll be able to raise the needed funds to see the project through to the end. Donors turned out in a big way when they were building the original campus — something she called "humbling" with the amount of monetary support they received as well as in-kind help from local tradesmen, contractors and others within the community.

This Heritage Center will be in addition to its Railroad Depot location in downtown Eagle River, which Sailer assured would still host the ever-popular free root beer float events as well as provide history to visitors to the downtown area.

But they aren't resting on their laurels just yet — there is still plenty to be done in the way of fundraising. Beginning later this month, Sailer and ERHS will start a $35,000 pledge campaign push to boost funding for the Heritage Center. More details will be released once the fundraiser is underway. Anyone who would like to offer their support for the project can click here to make a donation.

Historic Walking Tours Unveiled

In the meantime, ERHS has been hard at work to expand programming, gearing up for a busy summer of historical lectures, trivia gatherings, and the upcoming Pie Social and Open House slated Monday, June 9, at 4 p.m. at the main museum campus.

Also new this season are the historic walking tours that take place in the footprint of the downtown Eagle River Historic District. Tours are offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, every Thursday and Friday (except during the July 4 celebrations) begin each day at 10 a.m. at the Depot Museum, located at 116 S. Railroad St.

Cost is $20 per person plus tax, and the tours last roughly an hour and 15 minutes, led by longtime residents and ERHS docents who work from a loose script but are free to elaborate.

"Every tour is different, depending who is leading it," Bortolotti said, as each docent interjects their own bits of knowledge, anecdotes and memories.

Each participant gets their own headset so all information can be heard clearly, and there also are visual aids that hold more than 100 photos dating back 130 years. All the information has been thoroughly vetted, with much of it coming from the rigorous investigation and research that was done in order to register the downtown area as a recognized historic district.

Tours cap off at 10 people, so those hoping to sign up are encouraged to do so early by visiting here. Tours are held rain or shine.

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Heritage Center or the ERHS in general should visit eagleriverhistory.org.