This Hidden Museum in Wisconsin Is a True Local Secret

You wouldn't know it by wandering downtown Appleton, Wisconsin but a fascinating local history museum is hiding in plain sight. At first glance, looking past the sign, of course, you might think it's a church or some local gathering space. In one respect, you'd be right in that latter inkling. The stone building, a Tudor-style castle design with its arched windows and imposing double-door entrance, is unlike the architecture you're likely to see in the Fox Cities. Its looming presence makes you wonder what it's doing in a place like this, at least that was my impression. That's when I learned that the History Museum at the Castle doesn't just contain artifacts from the area's past; it has a history all its own that makes it well worth a trip.

Despite going to college just 50 minutes away in delightful little Ripon and visiting Appleton several times a year, I never had any idea this museum existed. Built in 1923, the building was once a Masonic Temple, which explains its unique architecture and the details you spot as you venture through it. When you think of the Masons using this space over 100 years ago, it makes you feel like you're in on a new secret. This is ideal for this museum, which not only houses the history of Appleton and the Fox Cities, but also of one of its most secretive inhabitants: Harry Houdini.

Houdini and his family lived in Appleton for a while after moving to the United States from Hungary. Now, an entire section of the museum is dedicated to him, featuring the "AKA Houdini" exhibit. I fell instantly in love with this part of the museum.

Detailing how many of Houdini's most famous escapes or illusions were done, the exhibit meanders through his public life as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, magicians of all time. It houses one of his straitjackets and other artifacts, including the only remaining bust he had commissioned during his life—the other two mysteriously broke. But between the areas of his exhibit, I implore you to take a look around, because, as I said before, the museum itself is also part of this story.

Houdini's exhibit is housed in the castle's several ceremonial rooms. As the building is formerly a Masonic Temple, these ceremony rooms needed to be used for something. I can't imagine a better use for them than this, which not only preserves their visage but also honors the notion of secrecy. Sure, parts of the exhibit explain the secrets of Houdini's work, but much of his life remains a mystery. Not unlike the intricate details of the ceremony rooms themselves, which give us a quick peek into its Masonic history without revealing the whole thing.

If you want to explore even more incredible history in Appleton, check out Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner before you go. You can visit places like the oldest power plant in Wisconsin and the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, which was the first private residence to be electrified by hydroelectricity. And you can't leave the city without stopping by Wilmar Chocolates for some decadent housemade sweets.