What a year! Reminiscing on 2024’s impact, here’s a collection of photos from the year’s most memorable moments. We hope these photos will spark your intrigue of the indelible history in our community. We’re well on the way to 2025… and it’s bound to be a terrific year.
At The Tower Heritage Center, our mission is to ‘forge meaningful connections.‘ Reaching across generations, we seek to preserve Washington County’s historic places and cultural heritage – making stories relevant for all generations. These photos show just that – history continued in the present.
Saving a building: one log at a time
Built by Norwegian settlers, this log structure dates over 170 years. But now – log by log – it’s been disassembled and moved more than 82 miles away to the Saxonia House site in Filmore, WI. The long-term preservation plan is to restore the structure, activating it as a much needed interpretive center at the Saxonia House site. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, this building has been saved.
Inspiring The next generation of entrepreneurs
Six teens embarked on a week-long program like none other – discovering the history and foundation of entrepreneurship through stories from experienced entrepreneurs.
Saving Frisby House’s critical Historic feature
In the Heritage Center’s first preservation workshop, participants worked to restore Frisby House’s original windows. With the windows now securely re-installed, this workshop marks an early success in the building’s restoration.
Not all those who wander are lost… some are on an architecture tour!
105 folks came out of the woodwork for Wine & Wander events, experiencing the enchantment of historic places with specialty tours.
Homeschool goes behind-the-scenes
To celebrate National Preservation Month in May, homeschoolers went behind-the-scenes to learn why historic places matter and what it takes to preserve them.
Golden hour at the 1889 Courthouse
For anyone who’s wondered, the woman in this sculpture is Lady Justice. Positioned on the north side of the 1889 Courthouse, this one-of-a-kind element was created by Belgian-born terra cotta artist, Henri Plasschaert.
It’s a bas-relief – meaning the sculpture’s figure is slightly raised giving it a 3D impression. (Picture a penny: Lincoln’s bust has dimension, bringing the piece to life!)
Top Stories From 2024
Early Success, Saving Frisby House’s Critical Historic Feature
Uncovering Secrets in Historic Homes; Hartford’s Schwartz Family House
Preserving the past, for tommorrow
Community support keeps Washington County’s stories alive. Make a difference in preserving our community’s historic places and cultural heritage today, by becoming a member.