Southport Beach House

History

The Southport Beach House was built as part of the Works Progress Administration from 1936 to 1940. Kenosha, Wisconsin had aimed to develop an extensive park and beach system ever since the Kenosha Park Association formed in 1906. By 1922, most of the land that would become part of the Kenosha parks system had been donated by wealthy residents. However, outside of Library Park, this land was largely undeveloped until the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Works Progress Administration promised funds for municipalities seeking to develop public park projects. Kenosha successfully received grants for re-purposing building materials from condemned buildings into park structures.

The use of re-purposed materials caused the resulting beach house to enjoy a mix of contemporary architectural styles and revivals. The exterior blends Tudor Revival details with an overarching Mediterranean Revival theme. Marble and stone from an old post office was used to create an Art Deco ballroom, featuring the geometric ornamentation common to the style. The Southport Beach House remains open to the public for events, although it no longer functions a beach house. On January 8, 2003, the building was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It was damaged in the June 2012 North American derecho, casting doubt on its long-term viability.