ELKHORN, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Elkhorn Band shell in the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 2025 at the statewide level of significance. The property was constructed in 1931 in Elkhorn, Walworth County.
The Elkhorn Band shell was originally listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 as a local example of a Classical Revival Bandshell. Additional Documentation was accepted at the National Park Service to list the band shell at the statewide level of significance because new information revealed it is among the best and earliest example of this type of innovative band shell design that improved sound quality. The band shell has an unusual design due to the construction method and materials of the rear stage wall and ceiling that uses a wooden hollow-body soundboard with tonal slots and a mixing chamber. It is architecturally attractive with the wood wainscot and bead-board curved rear wall, hanging pendant lights, and flanking ionic columns capped with a dentilated entablature and crenelated parapet adorned with applied musical filigree.
The Elkhorn Band Shell stands as one of two remaining band shells in Wisconsin from this era that are reflective of the technology of the time, as well as the only intact example designed by architect George Pheby in the United States. This change in the level of significance is due to a better understanding of historic band shells in the state and a better understanding of how innovative the design was for its time. The band shell originally stood on the courthouse square and was moved to its current location in Sunset Park in 1962.
Additional information for the Elkhorn Bandshell is available at: https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2358
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit: https://wisconsinhistory.org/hp/register/
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
