The Marathon County Historical Society presents its second annual Houses in Bloom from Tuesday through Sunday, March 7 to 12, at the Woodson History Center and Yawkey House Museum, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau. We aim to cure the winter “blahs” with an early breath of spring!

Both of our beautiful houses will be decorated with fresh flower arrangements created by various local designers. Their creativity adds to the elegance and beauty throughout these historic homes. This event kept us hopping last year with daily attendance four times the norm, and we are hoping for a repeat!

The Yawkey House Museum, built in 1901 by lumber baron Cyrus Yawkey, was then the most expensive house in Wausau! It is beautifully restored to capture the 1908 remodeling designed by architect George Maher exclusively for the Yawkey family, and offers a glimpse into the refined lifestyle of Wausau’s early “rich and famous.” Visitors during Houses in Bloom will be able to enjoy the added sights and scents of fresh floral arrangements throughout the house. Tours leave on the hour beginning at 9 am Tuesday through Friday, or 1 pm Saturday and Sunday, with the last tour at 3 pm all days. Tour tickets cost $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for youths, or free for members and children younger than 6, the usual cost for Yawkey House tours year-round.

The Woodson History Center houses our exhibit halls, where visitors can explore “Pieces of the Past: Quilts Tell a Story”, on view through August 2017, and “Our Stories: The History of Marathon County.” These exhibits, plus smaller displays throughout the Woodson History Center, are open to the public for free during any of our regular business hours. During Houses in Bloom, visitors will enjoy the addition of artfully arranged fresh flowers as well.

Participating floral designers include Evolutions in Design, Floral Magic, Blossoms & Bows, Trig’s Floral, Inspired by Nature, and County Market Floral. We invite everyone to “think spring” with us, during Houses in Bloom, March 7 to 12, 2017, at the Marathon County Historical Society. For more information, please call us at 715-842- 5750.