Whitewater Heritage 250:
A Living Democracy Celebration
July 2 – July 26, 2026
Unless otherwise noted, all events will be held at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI.
Whitewater Heritage 250: A Living Democracy Celebration, July 2 – July 26, 2026, Thursdays – Sundays, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
July 2 Heritage 250 Exhibit Opens
July 4 4th of July City Celebration, CAC Gallery is open
July 9 1st Brigade Band performs at Savory Sounds, 11:30am – 1:00pm
July 12 Heritage 250 Reception, 1st Brigade Band Demonstration, and portrayal of Christopher Ludwig (George Washington’s baker) by Dale Reich, 1pm-4pm
July 16 Kevin Wood portrays Abraham Lincoln, 10:00am – 11:30am
July 26 Final Day of the Exhibition
In collaboration with the Whitewater and Walworth County Historical Societies the Whitewater Landmarks Commission, and the 1st Brigade Band, the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) will host “Whitewater Heritage 250: A Living Democracy Exhibition” from July 2 – July 26, 2026 in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. The exhibit will feature historical photographs, artifacts, narratives, music, Civil War era instruments, documents, a time capsule, reenactments, and contemporary performances. The exhibit’s curation and programming highlight how the values expressed in our nation’s founding documents have shaped the development of our local society and the changes that have occurred due, in part, to those same principles. The exhibit reminds visitors that democracy is not only inherited but continually practiced.
Programming highlights include the performance of the 1st Brigade Band (https://1stbrigadeband.org/) for the Savory Sounds concert on July 9. The 1st Brigade Band reenacts performances of the original band, a group of eighteen men from the Brodhead Brass Band who enlisted in the Union Army in 1864. The band performs in traditional uniforms utilizing historic instruments; several of the organization’s instruments will be on loan for the exhibit in the Cultural Arts Center. An E-flat tenor horn played for the Lincoln – Douglas debate in Freeport, Illinois in 1858 and a drum played at Fort McHenry will be on display.
On July 12, Heritage Military Music Foundation members Nancy Campbell, Ed Pierce, Don Neverman, and Paul Schmidt will provide a demonstration and discuss the history of the instruments, including a Revolutionary War drum they will bring to the CAC. The exhibition reception will also take place that day from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Dale Reich will share his portrayal of Christopher Ludwig, George Washington’s baker, at 2:30pm.
President Abraham Lincoln will make an appearance on July 16, 10:00am – 11:30am through a historically grounded performance by Kevin Wood (https://www.mrlincoln.com/). The events are free and the public is invited to attend; the Whitewater Arts Alliance staff, board, and volunteers look forward to celebrating our history with our fellow citizens.
This program is supported in part by a grant from The Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and The National Endowment for the Arts.
The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage. For more information on the Wisconsin Arts Board, please visit artsboard.wisconsin.gov.
Additionally, we thank our sponsors for supporting these events:
Beaver Tree, Burtness, College of Arts and Communication, Culver's, Fairhaven, First Citizens State Bank, First English Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, Gomez Landscaping, Knapton Musik Knotes Inc, Krueger Jeweler, Nitardy Funeral Home, Pastor Clarissa Martinelli and Family, Pro Landscape Supply, Studio 84, The White House of Music, UW-W Summer Marching Bands, Whitewater Area League of Women Voters, Whitewater Historical Society, Whitewater Public Library, WUSD Leadership Team, Window Genie, Kim Adams and Angie Alesci, Joseph and Jessica Coburn, Thayer and Anne Coburn.
In conjunction with the Whitewater Heritage 250 exhibit, the Whitewater Arts Alliance (WAA) will launch its “Celebrating the Arts and Creating Community 250 Campaign.” This fundraising campaign seeks to raise awareness about WAA programming and community outreach efforts and to inspire 250 contributors to the 250 Campaign. The campaign will be officially announced on July 9 during the 1st Brigade Band Savory Sounds concert. The campaign will run July 2026 – July 2027 and funds raised will be used to embrace creative arts opportunities, enhance public art, enrich arts knowledge and appreciation, and engage intergenerational and diverse artistry. For information on donating to the Whitewater Arts Alliance, visit https://www.whitewaterarts.org/donate.
Contact/Media Contact:
Kim Adams, Whitewater Arts Alliance Gallery Director
Phone: 608-201-2151
Resources
Press Release: Download PDF
Poster: Download JPG