Marathon County Historical Museum

Cyrus C. Yawkey House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	403 McIndoe St., Wausau, Wisconsin
Coordinates	44°57′49″N 89°37′35″W / 44.96361°N 89.62639°WCoordinates: 44°57′49″N 89°37′35″W / 44.96361°N 89.62639°W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1900
Architect	George Maher/Van Ryn & Degelleke
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP Reference #	74000098[1]
Added to NRHP	December 31, 1974

The Marathon County Historical Museum is museum located in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located in the Cyrus Carpenter Yawkey House, a house listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The house is a significant example of Classical Revival architecture.^[2]

Yawkey

The house was the home of prominent citizen, Cyrus C. Yawkey. Yawkey was a co-owner of a firm in Saginaw, Michigan before moving to Wausau to purchase large tracts of land for lumber. He later owned numerous local businesses and was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature.^[3]

The house was built in 1900 to 1901. Yawkey hired George W. Maher to remodel the house eight years later. He remodeled the first floor, added a sun porch, and added two stories to the back of the structure. Yawkey died in 1943. His wife Alice lived in the house until she died in 1953. Their daughter, philanthropist Leigh Yawkey Woodson, donated the house to the Marathon County Historical Society.^[4]

Museum

The first floor contains the foyer, living room, dining room, Cyrus's office, a sun porch, and the ladies' parlor with authentic furniture from the beginning of the 20th century. There is also a kitchen with a back staircase, a pantry and former servants' dining room, and a half bath. The second floor contains the Yawkey's bedroom (with an attached bathroom), Leigh's bedroom (with attached sitting room and bathroom), a guest room, another bedroom, a servant's bedroom, and an additional bath off the main upstairs hallway. The staircase features large, stained-glass windows. Cyrus's den, part of Leigh's suite, the sun porch, and the small bump out which was built onto the dining room, all designed by George Maher, were added eight years after the Yawkeys moved in. On the third floor are servants' bedrooms, a bathroom, and a ballroom. There are formal gardens on the grounds and a carriage house with servant's quarters above.When the house was donated to the city in the 1950s, many of the second and third floor walls were torn down, the space being used for rotating exhibits. The second and third floors no longer house rotating exhibits. The house was restored to near original condition in the early 2000s.^[5]

Museum library

Library/Woodson mansion

The Marathon County Historical Museum Library is located across the street at the Woodson mansion. The Woodson mansion,^[6] designed by architect George W. Maher, was the home of Leigh Yawkey Woodson and her husband Aytchmonde Perrin Woodson. The library contains information about the history of the county.

Historic district

The houses are part of the Andrew Warren Historic District, which contains 62 historic buildings, mainly homes.^[5][7]

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. National Register of Historic Places, "Wisconsin- Marathon County". Retrieved November 22, 2007.
3. Marathon County Historical Society, "Yawkey, Cyrus Carpenter. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
4. Marathon County Historical Museum, Yawkey House Museum. Retrieved Sept. 4 2011. Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
5. explorewisconsin.com, Marathon County Attractions. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
6. Marathon County Historical Museum, "About The Woodson History Center," Retrieved Sept. 4 2011.
7. Norton, Maryanne C. (1983-01-15). "Andrew Warren Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Registration Form. US Dept. of the Interior - National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-05-12.

External links

• Official website