Portage County Historical Society wins state’s top history award

By Patrick Lynn

PLOVER — The Portage County Historical Society has earned Wisconsin’s highest honor for local history organizations.

The Wisconsin Historical Society presented the 2025 Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy to PCHS on Wednesday during a ceremony at Heritage Park in Plover. The award recognizes the society’s rapid transformation in recent years and its growing role as a community partner.

“This award reflects both the hard work of those who built this organization in the past and the vision that has guided us in recent years,” said John Harry, executive director of PCHS. “The decision in 2021 to professionalize our operations was a turning point. It allowed us to grow, to take risks, and to make local history an active part of our community’s cultural life. This recognition affirms that work, but it also inspires us to keep moving forward.”

For nearly seven decades, the society operated solely with volunteers. In 2021, it hired staff for the first time. Since then, PCHS has launched new exhibits, revitalized historic sites, and broadened its programming.

The award was presented inside the historic Old Plover Methodist Church, which currently houses the society’s exhibit Rhythms of the River: The History of Music in Portage County. Janet Seymour, outreach director for the Wisconsin Historical Society, delivered the honor.

Harry said the recognition is not only a celebration of accomplishments but also motivation for the future. “We are at a critical juncture,” he said. “With community support, we can continue building transformational projects that not only strengthen our organization, but also show just how much impact a small county historical society can have.”