PRESERVING AND SHARING OUR HERITAGE SINCE 1974
The Bayfield Heritage Association, an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society, is a nonprofit dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the history and culture of Bayfield and our surrounding region.
We are dedicated to:
2019 - 2024 Strategic Plan (download pdf)
The Bayfield Heritage Association (BHA) has served the Bayfield, Wisconsin and surrounding Lake Superior region for the past 45 years. The organization is unique in that it not only collects and preserves our areas’ past through an extensive physical and electronic archival collection, but also shares this rich history with our community through museum exhibits, educational programming and preservation of historic sites.
As a nonprofit, the Bayfield Heritage Association continues to thrive thanks to the support of our members, volunteers and donors. We are at an exciting junction, having acquired new exhibits - like the Bayfield Model Railroad - coupled with the continued vitality of our Pike Research Center and popular educational programming. In light of this, the Board of Directors has recognized the need for BHA to adapt and grow so that we can continue to serve our community for the next 50+ years. This Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for the next five years, outlining specific goals and actions to further our mission-based activities and to inform BHA’s expansion needs.
We are dedicated to:
- fostering an understanding and appreciation for our region's rich heritage.
- building a strong community identity by sharing the stories of Bayfield’s past.
- attracting visitors of all ages and backgrounds through engaging exhibits, rich educational programming, and fellowship opportunities.
- providing a space for our community to continue making its history, thus adding to Bayfield's enduring legacy.
2019 - 2024 Strategic Plan (download pdf)
The Bayfield Heritage Association (BHA) has served the Bayfield, Wisconsin and surrounding Lake Superior region for the past 45 years. The organization is unique in that it not only collects and preserves our areas’ past through an extensive physical and electronic archival collection, but also shares this rich history with our community through museum exhibits, educational programming and preservation of historic sites.
As a nonprofit, the Bayfield Heritage Association continues to thrive thanks to the support of our members, volunteers and donors. We are at an exciting junction, having acquired new exhibits - like the Bayfield Model Railroad - coupled with the continued vitality of our Pike Research Center and popular educational programming. In light of this, the Board of Directors has recognized the need for BHA to adapt and grow so that we can continue to serve our community for the next 50+ years. This Strategic Plan provides a roadmap for the next five years, outlining specific goals and actions to further our mission-based activities and to inform BHA’s expansion needs.
leadership
- Megan Boyle, Executive Director
- Jerry Phillips, President
- Marilyn Van Sant, Vice President
- Marti Peterson, Treasurer
- Sue Gerzina, Secretary
- Kristin Connell
- John Hanson
- Ellen Hauser
- John Klungness
- Bob Nelson
- Dan Wilczek
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE
- 1974 - Began as the Bayfield Historical Society
- 1977 - Raised funds to save the Old Bayfield County Courthouse
- 1981 - Helped establish the Bayfield Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places
- 1985 - Commissioned the historic musical Riding the Wind, presented at Big Top Chautauqua
- 1988 - Launched Bayfield Video Archives, interviews with Bayfield elders (you can check-out DVD's at the Bayfield Library or come watch them at BHA's Pike Research Center)
- 1993 - Purchased property at 30 N. Broad Street, the site of the current museum and research center
- 1996 - Developed the Fountain Garden Park as the entrance to the city of Bayfield, once known as the "Fountain City"
- 1996 - Acquired the historic Knight Apple Shed
- 2010 - Won the Wisconsin State Historical Society's Museum Exhibit Award for The Bayfield Flood of 1942
- 2011 - Opened the Pike Research Center
- 2012 - Hosted the Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators
- 2013 - Opened Sand Island by Sand Islanders Exhibit
- 2014 - Established the Jerry & Mary Phillips Bayfield Award for Volunteerism
- 2014 - Celebrated Bayfield Heritage Association's 40th Anniversary
- 2015 - Opened Timberlands, Cutover and Agricultural Exhibit
- 2018 - Raised funds to restore and share the history of the Old Bayfield City Jail
- 2018 - Created special edition 2019 Calendar featuring photos from beloved Bayfield Photographer Don Albrecht.
- 2019 - Underwent a comprehensive Strategic Planning process to outline goals and specific actions for the period of 2019-2024.
- 2020 - Adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering monthly online programs and developing virtual exhibits.
- 2021 - Raising $10,000 to restore Fountain Garden Park and planning for future museum expansion.
- 2021 - Digitized and published over 200 video interviews with Bayfield elders to bring the past to life.
