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Marathon County Historical Society reports visitor growth, 37,000 searchable archives after digitization push
Summary
The Marathon County Historical Society briefed a county committee on its 2024 service delivery: increased county visitors, expanded digitization (12,000 documents plus 33.2 hours of media) and ongoing planning for a 39,000 sq. ft. preservation center.
Blake, executive director of the Marathon County Historical Society, told a Marathon County committee on April 3 that the society provided programs to libraries and schools, digitized archives, and drew significant visitor traffic in 2024.
Blake said the organization is the only local group focused on countywide history and reported 7,575 visitors from around the county to the Woodson History Center and Yockey House in 2024 (excluding city of Wausau visits). The society reported 37,000 searchable items in its online archives after digitizing about 12,000 documents in 2024 and preserving roughly 33.2 hours of obsolete media, including 8mm and 16mm film.
“We are the only organization that our sole focus is on the history of Marathon County,” Blake said, describing the society’s outreach and education work. He said the Little Red Schoolhouse program hosted more than 1,300 fourth graders in 28 field visits last year and that the society offered 106 free programs and events in 2024.
Russ, a society representative, described plans for the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Legacy Center, a proposed 39,000‑square‑foot preservation facility intended to store archives and artifacts and free space at the Woodson History Center for exhibits and research. Russ said the society has begun planning for the county’s roles in the U.S. Constitution’s 250th anniversary in 2026 and is pursuing national accreditation goals.
The society reported tourism rankings showing the Yockey House and Woodson History Center among the county’s top attractions and noted that 68% of its visitors come from outside Marathon County; 37% of visitors came from outside Wisconsin, the society said.
Blake and Russ asked the committee to note the society’s partnerships with local municipalities, the Chamber of Commerce, the county parks department, and other history groups across the county. The society also said it has a searchable digital archive (now about 37,000 items) available on its website and that it continues to add material to a publicly accessible database.
Committee members thanked the presenters; no formal committee action was taken on the presentation.
