Old City Hall

Discover a piece of Sun Prairie’s history at the Old City Hall, a landmark built in 1895 in the heart of downtown.  This Romanesque Revival-style building once served as a social center for the growing community, housing a village council meeting room, jail, and two rear bays of engine storage for the local fire department on its first floor. Its second-floor auditorium hosted dances, operas, agricultural shows and other community gatherings, while a 65-foot tower overlooking downtown held the town’s fire bell.  The jail windows and firehouse bays are still visible on the west side of the building.

After serving as City Hall until 1956, the historic building transitioned to private ownership and commercial use.  Severely damaged by the 2018 downtown gas explosion, the building has since undergone renovations, including restoration of its second-floor auditorium to reflect its original 1895 appearance.  Today, it remains a distinctive reminder of Sun Prairie’s history and the resilience of its downtown.