History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.
~ David C. McCullough

About Our Building

The History Museum building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally a Masonic temple. The local Masonic Blue Lodge, charted in 1854, raised $100,000 in 1923 to build this facility.

The Museum's architectural style is Norman Revival, characterized by the use of rough hewn stone and other features reminiscent of medieval castles and churches such as vaulted ceilings, heavy beams and leaded windows.

Lodge membership began to decline in the late 1960s and by 1985 the Masons chose to sell the building to the Outagamie County Historical Society.

The Temple had been a lively community center. It hosted Masonic lodge meetings and events and was used by local churches and other organizations for dances, school proms and banquets — just as today. The History Museum is used as a venue for community and private events.

Architecture and Embellishments of Interest

The tiled floor in The History Museum's reception hall is decorated with Masonic marks, the crosses, triangles and squares signify the construction work of the Masons. Today they symbolize the beliefs and creeds within Freemasonry. Triangles are a symbol of God, the three sides represent the wisdom, power and creativity of a higher being. Crosses are a symbol of Christianity, including the swastika-like signs. The swastika, before it was adopted as a symbol of the Nazi Party, was a common symbol used in many cultures centered around concepts of power, energy and migration. It means infinity in China, good fortune in Tibet and the seal on the Buddha's heart in India.

The main lodge room, now Ogilvie Hall, and the auxiliary lodge, now the Metamorphosis room in the AKA Houdini exhibit, maintain their original integrity. Symbols on the stage of the main lodge are a testament to some of the founding local chapters; the star on the right of the stage represents the Order of the Eastern Star, and the keystone on the left stands for Royal Arch Masons. The square, compass and letter G represent the Blue Lodge. The mural above the stage relates to the degree work within the York Rite. Other notable fixtures include the Austin Organ Company's pipe organ which has been played in the hall since 1926 and the peep holes in the doors which were used in the Masonic degree ceremonies.

The original Egyptian motifs remain in the auxiliary lodge room. The lotus found on the light fixtures and carved into doors and on the walls is a sacred flower to the Egyptians, symbolizing renewal of the seasons' change and the life cycle. The winged disks above doorways and on the east wall represent the sun and the triumph of good over evil. The various historical motifs used by the Masons create a suitable mystical setting for their theatrical and allegorical rituals involving kings, knights, judges, and priests.