RIPON, Wis. — Ripon looks a lot different from the hustle and bustle of downtown Milwaukee. 

The Fond du Lac County city of 7,800 is about an hour and 20-minute drive northwest of Milwaukee, yet locals hope RNC visitors will make the trip in July to see a part of Republican Party history. 

Ripon is home to the Little White Schoolhouse. 

Back in 1854, it was home to the first meeting of voters to discuss the formation of what would eventually become the Republican Party. 

The building survives after being moved to a new location on the edge of town in 2023. 

Mandy Kimes is executive director of the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce. Publicizing the Little White Schoolhouse is part of her job. 

Kimes said the chamber has been working with the RNC so that it can be officially listed as an opportunity for people to explore while in Wisconsin for the convention. 

Kimes said she hopes that perhaps entire delegations could come to see it. 

“We know there will be busses helping to transport people and we think it is a worthwhile trip while it is here in Wisconsin. Why not come to the birthplace of the Republican Party?” said Kimes. 

Right now, logistics are still being worked out, so Kimes said it is difficult to know just how many people may visit the site. 

“The RNC explained that now that the primaries are done that is when they are really starting to work on the attendance, who is coming, the delegates,” said Kimes, “We don’t actually have real numbers yet but we know we are getting many more calls.”

In addition to the RNC, Kimes said she hopes other events this year will also help boost the schoolhouse’s profile, including the Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention in Appleton.