ROCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
RCHS MISSION:
The Rock County Historical Society enriches and engages the communities in Rock County, Wisconsin through preservation and dissemination of the unique history and heritage of our area.
RCHS VISION:
The Rock County Historical Society will become an indispensable community resource and a living part of the community and culture of Rock County, Wisconsin.
CHARLES TALLMAN HOUSE
Charles Tallman, grandson to William Morrison Tallman had this house built in 1915. Charles lived in the house with his wife Clara May and their two children Charles and Elizabeth. The stucco façade and half barrel dormers and entryway were common elements for a residence designed in the arts and crafts style of the early 1910s. Recently purchased by the Rock County Historical Society, the house will become the home of the RCHS archives and research center.
WILSON-KING STONE HOUSE
Originally a residence built by James P. Knowlton in 1845, the Wilson King Stone House was built in the Greek Revival style. It was moved to campus in 1964 and currently houses the archives of the Rock County Historical Society and the Rock County Genealogical Society. Over 12,000 photographs, thousands of primary sources, newspapers, probate records and maps are included in the archival collections.
HELEN JEFFRIS WOOD MUSEUM CENTER
The Rock County Historical Society offices and gift shop are located at the Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center. This was the home of Stanley Tallman, grandson of the owner of the Lincoln-Tallman House, William Morrison Tallman. Besides housing the RCHS administrative offices, the Helen Jeffris boasts four exhibit galleries, two which display the history of the Parker Pen Company and the Pickard China phenomenon, while the other two rotate exhibits chronicling the unique history of Rock County.
FRANCES WILLARD SCHOOL
Located on the Rock County Fairgrounds, the Frances Willard School provides an immersive environment designed to facilitate understanding of the one-room school in 19th and 20th century America. Period clothing, reading and math lessons, games, and teaching demonstrations are utilized to demonstrate the operation of the one-room school and early education. Each spring and fall, 1,200 3rd graders from Rock County and the surrounding area participate in two-hour sessions led by a team of dedicated volunteers.
LINCOLN-TALLMAN HOUSE
The Lincoln-Tallman House is Rock County's most iconic historical structure. Constructed between 1855 and 1857, this six-floor mansion is an excellent example of Italianate-style architecture. From the basement to the cupola, each floor offers visitors a unique glimpse of daily life in 19th century Rock County. Over seventy percent of the furniture is original, making it one of the most complete historic houses in the Midwest. From 1857 to 1915, the house was occupied by the William Morrison Tallman family. In October of 1859, Abraham Lincoln stayed at the house after a series of speeches in Beloit, forever cementing the reputation of the Lincoln-Tallman House as "where Lincoln slept". To explore the house, take a guided tour, offered daily.
CARRIAGE HOUSE
The carriage house, constructed behind the Lincoln-Tallman House, was built in 1857 and was used to house the Tallman family's carriages, tack, and horses. This structure held up to six stalls on the main level, root and vegetable cellars and cistern in the basement, and a hay loft capable of holding up to 15 tons of hay on the second story. Composed of Milwaukee cream city brick, the carriage house was designed to mimic the architectural style of the Lincoln-Tallman House.
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