Marathon City Heritage Center Now Open In Former People's State Bank Building

301 Main Street, Marathon

Hours of Operation: Second Sunday of each month, 10 AM to 2 PM. Or by appointment.

Press Release

September 10, 2015

RE: Marathon City Heritage Center Now Open

The grand opening of the new Marathon City Heritage Center was celebrated on September 5 and 6, in time for the Labor Day weekend celebrations. The center, which is located at 301 Main Street, Marathon, will be open on the second Sunday of each month from 10 AM to 2 PM, or by appointment.

The vision for the center is directed by the Marathon City 2020 Project Committee. The committee has been granted permission from Peoples State Bank to utilize their former branch building at the corner of Second and Main Streets in Marathon as the start up location for the center until a permanent site can be secured. Following Fun Days, the center will be open for operation on the second Sunday of each month from 10a to 2p, or by appointment.

The Marathon City 2020 Project Committee’s long range plan is to establish a local historical and education center within the Village to collect Marathon City’s cultural and historical assets, records, artifacts, data and stories so they are inventoried, protected and preserved, and shared with the community and general public. The center is intended to become a vibrant resource for Marathon City where people celebrate community pride, and share the history and continued growth of the Village and the surrounding area. The committee also hopes to generate enthusiasm for history among new audiences.

The idea for the center was sparked by growing community interest to learn and share Marathon City’s very historical past, dating from the early 1800s. While the village was first incorporated in 1884, the area was settled by German immigrants beginning in 1857. Historians also believe that French missionaries and fur traders were the first Europeans to visit the area during the late 1600’s, navigating the Rib River in Marathon County, Wisconsin.

The grand opening of the Marathon City Heritage Center is a joint collaboration between the Marathon County Historical Society and the Marathon City 2020 Project Committee. Many of the center’s initial collections that will be on display are on loan from the Marathon County Historical Society. The Marathon City 2020 Project Committee is planning to establish a subcommittee that will eventually have oversight for the Heritage Center.

People are encouraged to share your personal collections of Marathon City memorabilia and artifacts, and relate your stories that could potentially be used in the display. All donated or loaned materials must go through a preapproval and registration process before they may be added to the display. Please contact a member of the Marathon City 2020 Project Committee, or send an inquiry to info@marathoncity2020.com

The Village of Marathon City 2020 Project Committee is a community-based, action and economic development committee made up of business owners, community leaders and residents. It was formed in 2013 with several purposes, including identifying, developing and implementing effective and creative strategies that promote Marathon City’s assets; recruiting and retaining business and residential development; ensuring the community’s long-term sustainability; and preserving and promoting the Village’s long, vibrant history. To contact a committee member, join or request more information about the committee, visit www.marathoncity2020.com.

#heritagecenter #pressrelease