History Museum at the Castle facts for kids
The front entrance to the History Museum at the Castle
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | 333 East College Avenue, Appleton, Wisconsin |
| Public transit access |  Valley Transit |
The History Museum at the Castle is a cool place to learn about the past in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. It's right across the street from Lawrence University. This museum is run by the Outagamie County Historical Society (OCHS).
Before it was called the History Museum at the Castle, it had other names like The Outagamie Museum and The Houdini Historic Center. The building itself was once known as the Masonic Temple. In 2018, the museum received a very special award called the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This is the highest honor a museum or library in the United States can get!
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Discovering the Museum's History
The building where the museum is located used to be a Masonic temple. It was built in 1923. This historic building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Masonic Temple." This means it's an important place recognized for its history. Appleton's Waverly Masonic Lodge sold the building to the OCHS in 1985. That's when it became a museum!
What You Can See: Museum Collections
The museum's collections focus on the history of the Fox River Valley. You can find artifacts, which are old objects made by people, from the 1840s up to today.
The History Museum at the Castle also has a huge collection of items from the famous magician Harry Houdini. These include his personal documents and things he used in his shows. You can see some of his picks, locks, keys, and even handcuffs!
The museum also has a collection of items from the life of Senator Joe McCarthy. He was a well-known politician from the Appleton area. You can learn about his life and work. The museum also owns 35,000 old photographs. Some of these pictures date back to 1857. They include photos of Houdini, McCarthy, and the famous writer Edna Ferber.
Other Places to Explore Houdini's World
If you're interested in Harry Houdini, there are other museums and collections that feature his life and magic:
- American Museum of Magic
- David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, which is not open to the public
- Houdini Museum (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
- The House of Houdini
- Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin has many Houdini items, including letters and writings.
- Houdini Museum of New York
See also
- List of magic museums
