PCA - History

History of the Portage Center for theArts

NEED DIRECTIONS TO THE PCA?

301 E. Cook St.

P.O. Box 866

Portage, WI 53901

Phone: 608.742.5655

Fax: 608.742.0246

PCA, Inc.

Portage Cener for the Arts, Inc. was established in 1986, an outgrowth of PACT (Portage Area Community Theatre). October 31, 1987 was the grand opening of the Zona Gale Center. In an effort to distinguish ourselves from Zona Gale's home (the Museum at the Portage), in 2003 we changed our name to Portage Center for the Arts, the name our Non-profit organization had carried all along. We still honor our Portage daughter with our Zona Gale Theatre.

More information regarding the history of PCA, Inc. as we prepare for our 20th Anniversary Season in 2007.

The Building

First Presbyterian Church

This building was built in 1855 for First Presbyterian congregation. In May 1892, fire destroyed the interior. The congregation sold the damaged building to the Baptists, who rebuilt it and used the church until the 1930s. In 1938, the building was sold to the Assembly of God. In 1986, Portage Center for the Arts, Inc. was established and purchased the building, renovating it for use as an Arts Center.