Preserving Appleton’s Heritage
Preserve Appleton’s Heritage, and its supporters near and far, are aiming to restore and rejuvenate the Appleton Opera House and Historic Appleton City Hall as the anchor of our community pride.
New Product!
The Appleton Heritage Project
The Historic Appleton City Hall was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1977. The building is historically significant as an example of the Richardsonian [Romanesque] style of architecture. Between 1895 and 1976, the Appleton City Hall housed the city offices, the local jail, public library, post office, fire department, and an Opera House that hosted lyceums and touring theater groups. From 1980 until recently, the Historic Appleton City Hall housed the offices and production facilities of Pioneer Public Television. It continues to be an architecturally significant building in downtown Appleton as unfortunately, in the last five years, four brick historic buildings in downtown Appleton have been demolished. Though those buildings were not on the National Register, they were buildings that made up the character of Appleton’s small downtown commercial area. It shows how fragile these historic buildings are and how important it is to be proactive in saving the Opera House and Historic City Hall to keep Appleton’s history and stories alive.
Photo: The Opera House, with the original curtain preserved at the back of the stage. Original chairs still there.
Support restoration efforts by purchasing this brand new ornament showcasing the beautiful Appleton Heritage Center for local and far-away friends, family and classmates!
Photo: The Historic Appleton City Hall. Photo taken from the Northeast.
Current and potential future uses:
The Appleton Opera House currently houses Valley Dance District which hosts over 50 families in their dance studio occupying the entire Opera House and historic City Hall. Appleton Arts and Culture is housed in the newer portion (1983 addition) of the building, where various art and culture classes are offered and are often sold out! The expansive Appleton Museum is also housed in this portion of the building.
Unfortunately, during extreme heat/cold seasons, conditions for using the Opera House are quite poor for the dancers and others who will use it in the future. Potential future uses for these buildings include office space, coffee shop, snack shack, fitness center, business incubator, conference room rental and other business and community opportunities. Preserve Appleton’s Heritage welcomes public input!
