Dedication Ceremony

Thursday, June 18, 2026 — 4:30-5:00 p.m.

Outdoor park area
1805 Wisconsin Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

Camp Utley marker dedication

Join Preservation Racine and the City of Racine as we unveil and formally dedicate a marker that describes Camp Utley. Active during the Civil War (1861-1865), Camp Utley was the training grounds for Racine County soldiers before they were sent to active duty in the Union Army.

This is an outdoor event and will be held rain or shine. Please prepare that day for any weather (heat, sun, rain), for limited seating, and for parking on the street on adjacent blocks.

Event Program: For the order of program speakers, the text of the new marker, and more, click here.

We had a good turnout and excellent weather on June 18 for the Camp Utley historical marker dedication ceremony! Many thanks go out to our speakers: County Executive Ralph Malicki, Mayor Cory Mason, Lincoln scholar Steve Rogstad, Bill May of the Racine Legacy Museum and Veterans Center, and musician Mark Paffrath. And special thanks go to members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, who joined us in costume and performed the presentation of colors, benediction, and wreath laying.

The new marker can be seen at 1805 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, in the small park area just north of De Koven Avenue.

A group of people stands in a row, from left a man in a blue blazer appauding, then a historical marker labeled Camp Utley, then a woman holding a blue cloth that has just been removed from the marker, then six men in blue Union Civil War uniforms, two of them bearing flags. They are standing in a patch of green grass, with large trees, a street, and Victorian houses in the background.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Joan Rice performed the unveiling of the marker, with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War color guard beside them. [Tim Prior photo]

If you have any questions, please contact Preservation Racine at info@preservationracine.org