If you’ve ever wanted to travel back in time, now is your chance. Better yet? You don’t need a flux capacitor to go on this journey with us!
Green Bay is a city with a history so deep, it predates Wisconsin itself. From Indigenous cultures thriving along the Fox River to French explorers and colonizers building the oldest settlement in Wisconsin to haunted buildings to Prohibition-era restaurants—our little slice of the state is rife with fascinating and unique history. It’s even home to Wisconsin’s first newspaper and mail service!
Keep reading to step back in time and plan your history tour of Green Bay.
Museums & Historical Sites
Oneida Nation Museum
Founded in 1979, the Oneida Nation Museum started with a modest collection from the local community, but after acquiring artifacts from the Turtle Museum in Niagara Falls, NY, in the mid-90s, its collection nearly doubled, making it a must-visit destination for history buffs.
Inside, you’ll discover exhibits that explore the Oneida way of life, from the Creation Story and Haudenosaunee government to Oneida’s role in the Revolutionary War and World War I. Interactive displays showcase traditional animal use and the art of Oneida lace-making, while exhibits like Encryption highlight the crucial contributions of Oneida Code Talkers. The museum also features hands-on activities, a historic village diorama, and a gift shop packed with Native American arts, crafts, books, and music. Right next door to the Oneida Nation Museum, you can explore the Oneida Long House, a replica of the traditional homes that the Oneida people lived in hundreds of years ago.
If you’re looking to experience even more Oneida traditions, don’t miss the annual Oneida Nation Pow Wow, where music, dance, and community come together in a vibrant celebration of Oneida culture.
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Travel wayyyyy back in time at Heritage Hill, a 56-acre open-air museum that features 26 historic buildings spanning centuries, including original structures relocated from across the region mixed in amongst carefully crafted replicas.
Inside these historic buildings, you’ll find more than 9,000 artifacts, including artwork, books, furniture, and clothing from as far back as the 1600s. One standout building is the iconic Tank Cottage, built sometime between 1776 and 1803. It’s considered the oldest building in Wisconsin!
Neville Public Museum
What began as a one-week exhibition in the basement of Green Bay’s public library in 1915 has grown into one of the area’s most treasured cultural institutions. Founded by members of the Green Bay Art Club, the museum quickly gained popularity, prompting the creation of a permanent space dedicated to showcasing local artifacts and objects from around the world.
The museum's permanent collection now features over 100,000 artifacts and a photo archive with more than half a million images, showcasing the history and culture of local and regional communities. Don’t forget to also check out the museum’s online archive of thousands of historic photographs from the region!
Hazelwood Historic House Museum
Built in 1837, the Hazelwood House is an elegant Greek Revival home that stands as one of the oldest houses in Brown County still on its original site. It was the residence of Morgan L. Martin, a key figure in local, state, and national politics, and his wife, Elizabeth Smith Martin.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Astor Historic District, Hazelwood offers a glimpse into 19th-century life. The Brown County Historical Society has preserved the home with a great amount of care. Inside, the museum is furnished with artwork, furniture, and personal belongings from the Martin family.
White Pillars Museum
Maintained and run by the De Pere Historical Society, White Pillars Museum is housed in De Pere’s oldest commercial building. Constructed in 1838, this historic structure originally served as the headquarters for the Fox River Hydraulic Company. Over the years, the building evolved to serve various roles in the community, including a church, barber shop, antique store, and private school.
In 1973, the De Pere Historical Society acquired the building, transforming it into a museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the community’s heritage. Since then, White Pillars Museum has been a hub of local history, from hosting ice cream socials in the 1970s to developing a cutting-edge Museum Archive Research System to make historical records more accessible to the community.
Green Bay Diocese Museum
Located inside St Francis Xavier Cathedral Parish, the Green Bay Diocese Museum offers a glimpse into some of the region's Catholic history. The museum’s exhibits feature an impressive collection of relics, religious artifacts, vestments, and photographs.
As you explore, you’ll encounter stunning stained-glass windows dating back to the early 1900s, as well as a 40-foot mural of “The Crucifixion” painted in 1883 by Johann Schmitt, and a series of eight paintings by Josef Albrecht illustrating the beatitudes.
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Oneida Nation Walk of Legends
Green Bay's sports history is very important, so of course, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the history of our favorite team! First off, the Packers Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of the team and the players, coaches, and contributors who have shaped the franchise’s history. You can also see vintage jerseys, trophies, and memorabilia that highlight unforgettable moments in Packers history.
Just east of Lambeau Field, take a one-mile walk through the Oneida Walk of Legends, which honors the Green Bay Packers' legacy. Along the walk, you'll encounter 24 statues, each telling a story from a different era. Beyond celebrating the Packers, the Walk of Legends also educates visitors about the Oneida Tribe, as some of the earliest stars of the team were Oneida members. Each statue includes a vignette that shares insights into the tribe's history, customs, and contributions.
Outdoor History
Wequiock Falls
Wequiock Falls is a small county park that offers a glimpse into the natural history of the area with beautiful views of the Niagara Escarpment rock formation. It also features the Jean Nicolet monument and a Wisconsin Official Historical Marker highlighting Red Banks, where Nicolet arrived in 1634, marking a significant event in early settlement history.
Maribel Caves
Just south of Green Bay, the Maribel Caves is another beautiful natural area where you can see the geological history of the region first-hand. Explore small caves, enjoy the beauty of rare ferns and wildflowers as you stroll through the woods, and don’t forget to get a glimpse of the notoriously haunted “Hotel Hell” before you leave.
Before it was Hotel Hell, this historic building, built in 1900, was known as the Maribel Caves Hotel and housed a resort and spa. After surviving multiple fires and (allegedly) being a hideout for notorious figures like Al Capone and John Dillinger, the building has become the subject of local ghost stories, including rumors of paranormal activity and portals to hell opening in the old fountain at the front of the hotel. Though the hotel was destroyed in a 2013 storm, the ruins are visible from a trail that winds through the park.
Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua
Built in 1925 by Odile Le Mieux and her husband Joseph, the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua is a quiet sanctuary in the woods within the UW-Green Bay Arboretum. Constructed using limestone from the nearby escarpment, the chapel features intricate details and beautiful craftsmanship. The shrine remains a beloved spot for exploration and reflection.
Historic Cemeteries
Allouez Catholic Cemetery: Founded in 1822, Allouez Catholic Cemetery, originally known as Shantytown Cemetery, is one of Green Bay’s oldest burial sites, marking the resting place of many early settlers and prominent figures in the city’s history.
Woodlawn Cemetery: Established in 1856, Woodlawn Cemetery sits high above the Fox River and is home to the Mausoleum of Dr. William E. Minahan, a victim of the Titanic disaster. Many of the city’s early influential citizens, including Henry S. Baird and Eugene Eastman, are buried here, adding to the cemetery’s historical significance.
Historic Eats & Treats
Union Hotel & Restaurant
The Union Hotel & Restaurant in De Pere has been a staple of local dining and lodging for over 150 years. Originally opened as the Union House in the 1860s, the current structure dates back to 1883. The building featured many modern amenities for its time, such as Cream City Brick, a steam heat system still in use, and even electricity.
The Union Hotel dates back to the Prohibition era in the United States. During Prohibition, owners found creative ways to keep the business running, distilling their own “home-brew” in the closet of the booth rooms. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the hotel completed a major renovation of its bar and lobby, incorporating Art Deco elements that are still preserved today.
Seroogy’s
Indulge in a mint meltaway chocolate bar and a little piece of history at Seroogy’s, a local chocolatier that has been delighting chocolate lovers in the Green Bay area since 1899.
What began as a simple experiment—making fudge to see if restaurant patrons would enjoy it—quickly transformed into a thriving candy-making business that has stood the test of time.
Founded by brothers Joe, Jim, and Sol Seroogy, the family-owned chocolatier has built its reputation on using the finest ingredients and time-honored candy-making techniques. Now operated by another generation of Seroogy brothers (Jim and Joe) the company continues to produce chocolates that taste every bit as delicious as they did over a century ago.
Suster’s Arcade
About 20 miles southeast of Green Bay in the town of Denmark, Suster’s Arcade has been a beloved local spot for generations—though it's not the pinball and video games you might expect. The “arcade” in its name harks back to the Prohibition era when alcohol sales were banned, and the tavern adapted by adding poker tables, billiards, and shuffleboards to keep business booming. By the late 1930s, the bar was back in action.
While the games are part of its history, Suster’s is best known today for its legendary broasted chicken—crispy, juicy, and widely regarded as some of the best in Wisconsin. But the true hidden gem of the menu is dessert, specifically, a local favorite known as “knee caps.” Imagine a fluffy pastry that blends the light sweetness of a cream puff with the powdery finish of a sugar doughnut. Yum!
Where to learn more about Green Bay’s history
There is so much history in the Green Bay area that it would be impossible to share it all in just one blog post. If you want to dig deeper into the legacies and legends that built our city (and its surrounding areas), check out some of these local organizations where you can find both physical and digital historical archives plus events and programming:
