Meeme House Educational Overnight Program


Historic Meeme House, July 1, 1900

Travel back in time to the 1870s at the Meeme House stagecoach inn…

when the stagecoach era was transitioning to the rail and the proprietors of the historic Meeme House was a central part of daily life.

Learn what life was like during the 1870s when you attend the Manitowoc County Historical Society’s historic Meeme House Educational Overnight Program. Participants will discover the stagecoach era by taking part in map investigation, practicing the era’s parlor and dinning etiquette, creating a historic recipe, conducting a town meeting, and listening to stories of the past. 

Programming begins at 7:00 p.m. and concludes the next morning at 8 a.m. The Meeme House Educational Overnight is open to any youth or school group. Group sizes often range from 20 to 50 people. 

Cost: $50 per participant (minimum of 20 people).


Overnight Program: Step by Step Guide

Reservations

Any youth group can reserve an available night. Participants must be at least 7 years old and the group must provide chaperones. Once you find a date that works for you, fill out the Overnight Reservation Request Form, using the link below. You will provide possible dates for your overnight experience.

When your reservation is confirmed by a Manitowoc County Historical Society staff person, a $200 deposit is required within 14 days. The $200 non-refundable deposit will hold your group’s spot and will be deducted from your final payment. Payment can be made by check or credit card and is due prior to your group’s arrival.

The amount of participants that you reserve with at this point is what you are financially responsible for. If you wish to change this number without being penalized, you must confirm, in writing, any attendance changes with MCHS staff 45 days before your Overnight Experience.

Final Roster & Payment

Your final attendance numbers and remaining balance (-$200 deposit) are due 30 days prior to your visit. Your final headcount must be confirmed on this date and submitted in writing. You are financially responsible for the number of attendees booked after the 30-day mark. NO refunds are given. Please be aware, it is your responsibility to have your payment in on time. We will not be responsible for gathering or collecting payments from individuals.

This roster/guest list is available for you to help plan your Overnight and is due two weeks before your visit.

Arrival

Overnight groups should plan to arrive at the Museum’s Meeme House at 7:00 PM. Upon arrival to the museum grounds, there will be a directional sign at the McAllister House Welcome Center gate to direct groups to the Meeme House. Depending on the size of your group and the modes of transportation used, the Education Coordinator will provide you specific arrival and parking instructions prior to your visit. At the Meeme House, your group will be greeted by Educational Overnight Assistant’s to make sure everything is in order for the experience. Further instructions will be given to the group leader and guests will be welcomed inside. Please have Waivers signed by all attending youth and adults and in the order in which they appear on the roster. Families may sign on the same form. The Museum’s Medical Form should be filled out as needed.

Remember to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow! Bedding is not provided for youth overnights.

The Meeme House is one of many historic structures on our grounds. Download a site map and follow the signage on site to the Meeme House.


Necessary Forms

Required

  • Overnight Deposit Form – Due within 14 days of your reservation

  • Final Payment Form – Due 30 days prior to your visit.

  • Overnight Program Roster/Guest List - Due two weeks before your visit

  • Waiver and Release of Liability - Due at time of arrival

    • Parent/Guardian and child can be listed on the same waiver. Must signed by all attending youth and adults and in the order in which they appear on the roster.

Optional


Overnight FAQ

For a PDF version of the FAQs click here.

  • $50 per person, for both children and adults

  • Guests must be seven years or older to participate in the overnight program.

    A minimum group size of 20 is required to participate in the program. The maximum number of participants is 50 people.

  • Check-in time is 7:00 PM (no earlier). Check-out time for the program is 7:30 to 8 AM the following day.

  • The Meeme House Educational Overnight program and cost includes a tour of the historic Meeme House, educational programming, overnight accommodation, and all supplies used as part of the experience.

    Meals are not provided. It’s recommended that groups eat dinner prior to arrival. Groups are encouraged to bring snacks and water.

  • 7:00 PM: Group leaders check in at the McAllister House Welcome Center

    7:15-7:45 PM: Welcome and introductions, rules, overview of experience, and background information.

    7:45-8:00 PM: Divide into smaller groups for interactive tour rotations. Engagement stations will typically take place from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Rotation length and group size vary on the number of participants. Expect each station to last around 20-30 minutes.

    10:00 PM: Snack break, get ready for bed, arrange sleeping area.

    11 PM: Lights out / quiet time.

    7 AM to 7:30 AM: Wake up and clean your sleeping area. Pack up belongings.

    8 AM: Overnight program concludes.

  • Please adhere to the adult-child ratio set out by your organization. For groups without a required ration, the Museum recommends the following ratios:

    • 7-8 year-olds—1:2

    • 9-12 year-olds—1:4

    • 13 and up—1:6

    The Museum considers participants 18 years of age and older to be adults. All chaperones/group leaders must be adults. At least one chaperone must stay overnight in each area where youth participants stay to provide supervision. At least one adult chaperone must be awake if any youth participants are awake during the Overnight.

  • The number of Museum staff working each Overnight depends on the number of participants scheduled for a given night. Overnight education staff will remain at the Meeme House throughout the night. Staff will inform the group where they will be sleeping in case of emergency.

    Staff are responsible for leading all educational and interpretive programming during the Overnight; chaperones / group leaders are responsible for providing supervision and discipline. The Manitowoc County Historical Society reserves the right to eject a group at any time for behavior deemed unacceptable or dangerous by the staff.

  • The Meeme House has a large Hall on the second floor where guests will sleep. Sleeping accommodations may be made in other spaces if deemed necessary.

  • The Museum does not have a policy on this issue. It’s up to the group to decide whether to overnight males and females together or in separate areas. If your group requires separate overnight areas for each gender, please inform the staff during your registration. It’s the chaperone/group leader’s responsibility to maintain proper behavior and discipline during sleeping time.

  • There are a few modern outlets available in the Meeme House for a CPAP or other medically necessary sleeping device. It’s recommended that guests bring their own extension cord. Notify the staff upon arrival, so they can set you up near an outlet.

  • Each guest should bring their own sleeping bag and pillow; sleeping will take place on a wood floor. Guests may bring a single foam mattress pad. Air mattresses are NOT allowed.

    The Meeme House is outfitted with heat and air conditioning. Participants are advised to dress appropriately for the outside weather; layers are suggested.

    Participants are advised to pack minimally as space in the house is limited. It’s recommended that you bring:

    • Personal toiletries

    • For your safety, we recommend closed-toed shoes: no sandals, flip-flops, or slippers.

    • First aid kit. (the museum staff will not dispense any medication. Chaperones and group leaders are responsible for dispensing any medication).

  • Items NOT permitted during your stay:

    • Alcoholic beverages (either on or off premises)

    • Knives and weapons

    • No smoking—in the Meeme House or on museum grounds.

    These items will be considered contraband and will be confiscated and not returned. The Manitowoc County Historical Society staff will make all decisions regarding the legality of items. If you have a question as to the legality of an item, do not bring it. This is done for the safety of your group as well as for the historic structure.

    Phones and other electronic devices are allowed at the Meeme House only so long as they do not distract from the experience. The Museum staff has the right to end the use of any electronic devices at their discretion. The Manitowoc County Historical Society is not responsible for damage, loss, or theft of any personal items and has the right to conduct a gear inspection at the beginning of your stay.

  • Yes. the Overnight Program runs every Friday and Saturday night year-round. Weekday bookings may also be available upon request.

  • As a historic structure, the Meeme House does have limitations for those with disabilities. However, in many cases, visitors with disabilities enjoy full participation in the Overnight Program. Guide animals are permitted at the Meeme House. Unfortunately, the Meeme House is not fully wheelchair accessible. The first floor is accessible, the the second floor is not. Please contact the Museum for details on accessibility. Sensory backpacks and headphones are available upon request.

  • Parking may be available directly outside the Meeme House. Parking is available in the main parking lot, off the McAllister House Welcome Center. The Manitowoc County Historical Society is not responsible for damage or theft of vehicles parked overnight, or their contents. Parking space may be limited, so please carpool if possible. Bus parking is also available. Depending on the size of your group and the modes of transportation used, our Education Coordinator will give you instructions on parking during your overnight experience.

  • If, for some reason, your group finds it necessary to cancel a visit, your deposit will not be refunded. There is one exception: if you notify the Museum at least 60 days in advance of your scheduled visit and at that time reschedule your visit for a later available date within one year of the initial reservation date, the Museum will apply your deposit to the new date.

    On rare occasions, inclement weather may cause conditions hazardous enough for the Museum to close the Meeme House. In such cases, every effort will be made to provide scheduled groups with advance notice so that they can reschedule their visit. The safety of participants and staff is the Museum’s paramount concern.

    The Manitowoc County Historical Society will not be responsible for any other inconveniences or consequences arising from the cancellation of a group’s visit.

  • Restrooms are located on the first floor inside the Meeme House. Group bathroom breaks are taken at regular intervals throughout the program. Shower facilities are not available for groups.

  • Any participants feeling unwell during an Overnight should alert a group leader or Overnight staff member immediately. It’s the group’s responsibility to bring their own first aid kit and medications for participants. Participants requiring refrigeration of prescription medicines will be accommodated.

    Participants wishing to leave the program at any time are free to do so. Youth participants cannot leave without being escorted by a chaperone. Participants choosing to leave the Museum property will not be re-admitted to the Overnight and will not be refunded their registration fee.

  • The Meeme House is a living history museum and an irreplaceable historic structure. Violation of ANY safety procedures will be grounds for ejection from the site. The Manitowoc County Historical Society and its staff are not responsible for any expenses of the person or group associated with ejection or voluntary departure from the Meeme House.

    Each group is required to bring their own first aid kit, however, the museum does have first aid supplies and an AED unit.


Family Overnights

The Manitowoc County Historical Society offers a few nights a year where individual families can come through our overnight program to explore and learn about Wisconsin’s stagecoach era and beyond at the historic Meeme House.

Upcoming family overnight dates are listed on our program website. Advanced registration is required.


Contact Us

For more information about the historic Meeme House educational overnight experience, please connect with our Education Coordinator at (920) 684-4445 or Education@ManitowocCountyHistory.org.