Col. Heg Park
Hours:
Hours:
9:00AM to 5:00PM
Event Permissions:
Photography Permitted:
Photography Permitted
Filming Permitted:
Filming Permitted
Building Accessibility:
Accessibilty:
Fully accessible to persons with disabilities
Restroom Availability:
Restrooms:
Restrooms will not be available for visitors
Building Information
Building Information:
Col. Heg Memorial Park was established in 1928 as the first Racine County park. It was built to honor Hans Christian Heg, a local man who emigrated from Norway in 1844. He organized the Norwegian Regiment, part of the 15th Wisconsin, and was killed in the Civil War. He is the highest ranking officer from Wisconsin to lose his life in the war. The original park included playgrounds, picnic grounds, a log cabin built in 1837, and a museum. A statue of Col. Heg stands at the north end of the park, one of three such statues. The others are located on the capitol grounds at Madison, and at Lier, Norway, Heg's birthplace. The park has expanded and now includes the Eielsen House, home of a local pastor and a barn museum which houses farm equipment. A hill for sledding and a baseball diamond have also been added to the original park.
Visitor Experience
Visitor Experience:
The museum houses many artifacts from the early settlers, and tells the story of Heg and the Norwegian settlement known as "Old Muskego". It was the first successful Norwegian settlement, boasting the first Lutheran Church to call a pastor, the first Norwegian representative to the state legislature, and the first Norwegian language newspaper. Guides will be available in the log cabin and barn to answer any questions.