Preserving Fort Atkinson’s Past,
Protecting Its Future
Our Mission
We serve the community of Fort Atkinson by preserving the historic integrity of the city.
The Historic Preservation Commission is charged with the “protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of improvements or sites of special character or special architectural, archaeological or historic interest or value.“
Join us at our next meeting!
The Historic Preservation Commission meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, at 8:45 a.m. at the Hoard Historical Museum.
Historical Walking Tours
Explore Fort Atkinson’s rich history at your own pace with self-guided walking tours featuring some of the city’s oldest and most architecturally significant buildings. The downloadable digital maps linked below make it easy to uncover Fort Atkinson’s preserved landmarks.
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If you would like to research a historical property in Fort Atkinson, to find out more about its style, see how old it is, or to discover who the previous owners were, a good place to start is Knox Research and Archives at the Hoard Historical Museum.
To learn about earlier owners of a property, you can conduct research at the Jefferson County Register of Deeds, located at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 311 S. Center Ave., Jefferson, WI.
The Historical Society of Wisconsin has an online database of historical properties from all over the state. This database, called the Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, has information about many historic structures in Fort Atkinson.
Another resource is the Archives and Area Research Center located in the Anderson Library on the campus of UW-Whitewater.
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If you believe your property might qualify to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, check out this webpage from the Wisconsin Historical Society to learn more about the criteria for eligibility.
If you want to learn more about what the National Register of Historic Places is, please see this webpage.
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Did you know that there are tax credits available for people who are rehabilitating a property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Learn more about these tax credits by visiting this webpage from the Wisconsin Historical Society.
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Preserving a historical structure can sometime be a challenge, but there are many resources to help you in this endeavor. For more information on the preservation and maintenance of historic structures, please see this webpage from the Wisconsin Historical Society.
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Historical Building Resources
Your Part in Preservation.
Nominate a project for the
Historic Preservation Award
Have you spotted a stunning restoration that brings Fort Atkinson’s history back to life? Whether it’s your own project or someone else’s, nominate it for the Historic Preservation Award!
Submissions are due November 1.
Planning Changes to a Historic Property?
Submit Your Proposal for Review
If you're planning alterations to a designated local landmark or a property within one of Fort Atkinson’s historic districts, please complete the Certificate of Appropriateness application and submit it to the Historic Preservation Commission for review and approval before beginning any work.
Contact us.
We’re here to help you explore and preserve Fort Atkinson’s rich history. Whether you’re researching a historic building, planning a restoration, or just curious about the preservation process, we’re happy to answer your questions and point you toward the right resources. Our team is passionate about sharing knowledge and guiding you through each step of your historic journey. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to hear from you!