King Cottage
The King Cottage was moved to South Park (South Main Street, Waupaca) and placed behind the Hutchinson House in 1975. The Waupaca Historical Society, at the time, only operated the Hutchinson House and thus was looking for more room for storage. Working with the City of Waupaca, the Waupaca Historical Society moved the cottage from King to its current location and immediately utilized it for artifact and office storage.
A few years later, porches were added to the cottage, and the interior walls were removed to allow for use as a research library. From 1997 until 2001, it was filled with photographs, books, maps, and other research and genealogical materials.
In 2001, with the purchase of the historic Carnegie Library building, the offices and many of the collections and genealogical and research materials moved out of the King Cottage. It then reverted back to storage for the Hutchinson House collections.
The King Cottage is open to the public during open hours at the Hutchinson House Museum. Exhibits in cottage tells the story of the Chain O'Lakes (including Whispering Pines Park) and the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King.
Thank you for donating to the Waupaca Historical Society and helping us preserve Waupaca and Chain O'Lakes history!
Come visit us at the Holly Center at 321 S. Main Street during our open hours on
Wednesday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.!
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What's Happening at the Waupaca Historical Society!
(all programs are at the Holly History and Genealogy Center unless otherwise noted)
2025 HOLLY CENTER HOURS: Wednesday-Friday,
10 am-2 pm
- Sun., March 2, 3-5 pm at the Waupaca Depot: Self-Guided Winter Hike (program with the City of Waupaca Parks & Rec and the Waupaca Area Public Library); stop at the Depot for a hot beverage and tour!
- Thurs., March 20, 6 pm: "Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend" with author Kelly Nelson
- Mon., April 14, 6:30 pm at the Waupaca Area Public Library (a Winchester Academy program):"Waupaca’s Sesquicentennial: A Look Back at the City of Waupaca’s Early Years" with Tracy Behrendt
- Thurs., April 24, 6 pm: "Plank, Wheel & Rail: Wisconsin's Transportation History" with Jim Willaert, Wade House Historic Site
Appointments outside of open hours at any WHS buildings can be made at least two weeks in advance by calling the Holly History and Genealogy Center at (715) 256-9980 or emailing
Tracy Behrendt at