Frequently Asked Questions

2026 Holiday Season Shipping & Fulfillment

(November-December)

  • Order early for holiday gifting. Our fulfillment team ships promptly; however the quantity of orders during the holidays can cause delays. Orders placed on Fridays usually ship the following Monday. Orders shipping to the coastal states and/or rural addresses take longer.
  • The online store is not responsible for delays during transit.
  • The online store not offer local pickup or curbside service. More info about shopping locally is below.
  • Advised 2026 order-by deadlines for holiday gifting: 
    • USPS Ground Advantage: Wednesday, Dec. 16.
    • USPS Priority Mail: Thursday, Dec. 17
  • Non-shipping download products and commercial use inquiries: Response and fulfillment times may be protracted in November and December due to increased requests and orders. Thank you for your patience during this busy time!

Shipping

I am in Madison, can I order online and pick it up today? 
Unfortunately, no. The online store's fulfillment center is not open to the public. 

Can my order be shipped as a gift to an alternate address?
Yes. Orders placed in our online store can be shipped to gift recipients with U.S. addresses. To send to an alternate address, follow the prompts at checkout.

Does your online store ship internationally?
The online store only ships to U.S. addresses at this time.

How does free shipping with cart minimum work?

  • Free ground shipping is available for most orders with a subtotal of $75 or more.
  • The free shipping threshold is calculated before sales tax and after discounts.
  • The discount is available for most physical addresses in the 50 states.
  • The choice of shipping method is the sole discretion of the Wisconsin Historical Society; it is usually U.S.P.S. Ground Advantage for qualifying orders (even if a different option appears available at checkout).
  • Exclusions:
    • Orders over 25 pounds
    • Orders requiring a box over 12x16x12 inches or requiring more than one box
    • APO and FPO addresses
  • Questions? If you run into any issues or questions at checkout, please call or email.

Wisconsin Historical Society Member Discounts

How do I get my member discount in your online store? 
If you are a member of the Wisconsin Historical Society, please ask the membership team for the member discount code. When shopping online, go to the shopping cart to review the items in your cart and enter the code. (The link to the shopping cart is at the top right corner, and it looks like a little shopping cart.) The space to enter the discount code appears in different places depending on your device. If you have questions about our membership or wish to join, check out our membership website.

Does the member discount apply to all items? 
Some items are excluded from member discounts, including but not limited to items already on sale and annual State Capitol ornaments. Shipping is not discounted.

How much is the member discount? 
The member discount is 10% off applicable items. 

Does the member discount double to 20% for the month of May?
Yes it does!

Checkout Support

Who do I contact if I have a question or need assistance checking out? 
Email is preferred: [email protected]. In-person telephone coverage is part-time, and we will do our best to return messages: 608-261-9366. Thank you for your patience. 

Shopping Locally (in Madison, WI)

Can I come to "the store" and shop in person?
In-person shopping in Madison, WI, will be possible at the Wisconsin History Center when it opens in 2027. The Wisconsin Historical Society's ecommerce store and its product selections are separate from the stores at our historic sites around the state, including the Wisconsin History Center. 

Tax Exempt Purchases

Can I place a tax-exempt order online?
The Wisconsin Historical Society honors the tax-exempt status of eligible institutions and requires supporting documentation (e.g. Wisconsin Form S-211).  For specific information about ordering different products, please review the following guidance:

Apparel Sizing

What sizes are your shirts? 
Unless stated otherwise on the product pages, shirts on the WHS online store are standard, unisex sizing. 

Other Frequently Asked Questions

What is your online store's return policy?
My order arrived damaged, or I received the wrong item, what do I do? Please see our Return Policy.

Are all of the products sold your historic sites available online?
No. The online store offers a curated selection of products found in our museum stores. Additionally, some products might be exclusively offered online. Our online store is separate from the stores at the our historic sites, and all of the sites’ stores carry different products.

How can I find out about the status of my order? What if I need to change or cancel an order?
If you registered as a customer in the online store, you can login and check your order status. Customers can also email [email protected] to request a status update. To change an existing order, it is often necessary to cancel the original order and place a new order. 

I make a product that would be great in your store; who do I contact?
New product suggestions are reviewed periodically. Potential vendors may inquire by sending an email to [email protected]. Our retail team does not respond to all direct inquiries.

Can I purchase your products to resell in my store?
Possibly, yes. Please send an email to [email protected] and list the products in which you are interested for resale in your store.