If only the walls could talk. Wisconsin’s oldest building has a murky past, but what we do know is pretty fascinating. You’ll find a simple cottage in Heritage Hill State Park that’s not only the oldest building in the state – it’s a place that’s been on the move and was almost lost forever. Today the Tank Cottage offers a living window into the history of the Green Bay area and a glimpse of what Wisconsin life was like for early settlers, more than two centuries ago. Here’s what you need to know about Green Bay’s Tank Cottage.

The exact year that the Tank Cottage was built was lost to time, but we do know that it was built a very long time ago. The building was constructed by Joseph Roi, a fur trader and one of the earliest European settlers in the area, sometime between 1776 and 1803.
Wisconsin Historical Society
The cottage served as a residence and trading post. It is a small, wooden structure, which is a typical example of French colonial architecture.
Google / Andy Leisk
The cottage changed hands a few times and picked up the Tank name from Norwegian Moravian missionary Nils Otto Tank, who bought the home and surrounding land in 1850.
Google / Fox River Kayaking Company

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His wife eventually had the home covered in clapboard, and in the early 1900s, it was in danger of being demolished as the city of Green Bay grew.
Google / Andy Leisk
Fortunately, that never happened. In 1908, it was moved from its location on 8th Street along the river to Tank Park. The cottage moved again in 1976 to Heritage Hill State Historical Park to serve as a museum.
Google / Andy Leisk
Today, the Tank Cottage is a historic site within the Heritage Hill State Historical Park. Visitors to the park can explore the cottage and learn about the early history of Wisconsin and the French fur trade. Heritage Hill is a living history museum that features over 30 historic structures representing different periods in Wisconsin's history.
Google / Fox River Kayaking Company

Learn more about Tank Cottage and Heritage Hill on the Heritage Hill State Historical Park website. It’s an amazing place to hike around and explore on foot. Wisconsin has an abundance of amazing historic sites. Here’s where to find them.

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Heritage Hill State Historical Park, 2640 S Webster Ave, Green Bay, WI 54301, USA