KENOSHA — For generations of Kenosha residents, Kemper Center has been a place to celebrate, learn, create memories and experience a piece of the community’s history.
This weekend, the historic lakefront landmark is celebrating 50 years of being preserved and operated as a community destination.
The story of Kemper Center begins long before that milestone.
The property dates back to 1861, when U.S. Senator Charles Durkee built the cream-brick Italianate Victorian mansion along Lake Michigan. Four years later, the home became Kemper Hall, a boarding school that educated generations of young women for more than a century.
In 1975, the future of the historic property was uncertain. A group of concerned Kenosha residents stepped in to save it from demolition, ultimately purchasing the property, forming Kemper Center Inc. and partnering with Kenosha County.
Gary Vaillancourt remembers being part of those early efforts.
“I remember the very first meeting in 1975 at the Elks Club downtown where a small group of us got together and started talking about this,” Vaillancourt said.
Fifty years later, the property remains active with events, arts programming, education and community gatherings.
Watch: Kenosha’s Kemper Center turns 50: Here's the history behind the landmark
Today, Kemper Center includes eight buildings across 17.5 acres, including the Anderson Arts Center.
Gary Groenke with Kemper Center said the property continues to bring people together.
“This park is vibrant; we have weddings here, a lot of anniversary parties, six major shows a year here at the Anderson Art Center, fourth graders go through the mansion, part of the unified program, we do all kinds of stuff here," Groenke said. "There’s something for everyone here at Kemper Center."
And with a history dating back more than 160 years, there are also plenty of stories — including some people say are a little spooky.
“We hear that quite a bit,” Vaillancourt said. “People will say I know they’re there. I’ve seen it, I’ve heard it.”
But for those who have spent decades helping preserve the property, the most important part of Kemper Center is the community that continues to fill its historic halls.
The 50th anniversary celebration is Saturday, marking five decades of preserving the property’s history while continuing to bring arts, events and the Kenosha community together.
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