Before you head into the Milwaukee County Historical Society at Third and Kilbourn to explore Milwaukee's history, take a moment to look at the building. It's one of the Historical Society's most treasured artifacts.

Completed in 1913, the triangular, two-story neo-classical building, which caps the southwest corner of Marquette Park, was built to house the Second Ward Savings Bank. The windows are framed in ornate cast iron and separated by limestone Ionic columns and lovely moldings.

Inside, the walls are marble-covered and the mezzanine -- a later addition -- is lined with fine ironwork. Majestic columns line the large central space, which is dominated by a massive walk-in safe.

The building was donated for a historical society in 1965 by the First Wisconsin National Bank and since then it has housed a range of exhibits.

On the first floor, there's an in-depth look at Milwaukeeans in the Civil War. The brightly-lit show illuminates Cream City participation in the war using photos, documents, uniforms, weapons and other items. Just across the way is another smaller room with items from World War I, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

If you need some background, start at the video presentation to the right of the safe.

A vetrine shows a range of old model railroad cars and in the Alfred Uihlein Gallery jst behind, you can see an amazing 100-year-old doll house built for 9-year-old Elizabeth Ogden by her grandfather Henry Harnischfeger. The multi-level house still contains much of its original furniture. And the gallery that houses it is decorated with wood paneling, a staircase, a fireplace and more from the Uihlein home that stood on North 5th Street until the early 1970s.

Another vintage doll house can be found behind the main staircase. Also nearby are some recreated old-time shops -- a bank and a print shop -- a la "Streets of Old Milwaukee."

Upstairs, there is a fine exhibit about the panorama painters that worked in Milwaukee in the 19th century. Their expansive paintings traveled the country in pre-moving picture days. Hidden in a dark adjacent gallery is a collection of memorabilia from the city's Socialist era, when Victor Berger, Daniel Hoan and Frank Zeidler ruled the roost.

There is also a collection of art by WPA artists Thorsten Lindberg and a montage exploring the ethnic history of Milwaukeeans, from the earliest Native Americans, through French explorers, early German immigrants as well as newcomers from Poland, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Bohemia, Mexico and beyond.

The second floor also houses the MCHS library, which is loaded with useful information for researchers, genealogists and folks who just want a further glimpse into the history of Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee County Historical Society is located at 910 N. Old World Third St. It is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, the library closes for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Call (414) 273-8288.