Racine and surrounding communities are rich in military and industrial history that is being systematically forgotten and lost for all time. 

    The people of Racine have demonstrated, through service to their country and community, an astonishing ability to rise to extreme heights of courage, compassion and commitment.  The Legacy Museum will celebrate our freedom and provide a powerful and educational reminder to future generations that freedom is not free through the collection, preservation and interpretation of historically significant artifacts and events unique to Racine and Racine County . 

    Facts about Racine

The youngest person in the Union Army in the Civil War was a drummer boy named Johnny Walker from Racine, he was only 11 years old when he enlisted.

In 1865 Ulysses S. Grant visited Racine

In the early 1900’s Racine’s Horlick Malted Milk accompanied the troops

In 1909 the first Spanish American War Monument in the United States was built in Racine

In 1915, the first Racine Local Red Cross Chapter was formed

In 1942 Massey-Harris (Ferguson) received the largest defense contract in the United States to build tanks at the Nash Plant

In 1943 a captured Japanese submarine was brought to Racine to help sell war bonds