History:

The first Wisconsin Valley Fair was held in Marathon Park in 1868, only twenty years after Wisconsin received statehood. In 1920, the land was deeded by the Marathon County Agricultural Society to Marathon County.

That same year, Alexander Eschweiler, a Milwaukee architect, was commissioned to design a new stock judging pavilion, grandstand and cattle barns for the park. The judging pavilion is located in the southeast corner of Marathon Park and consists of an octagonal-shaped building with cupola, and adjoining barns with gable roofs. In 2002, the original grandstand bleachers were replaced by a new amphitheater area with 4,000 permanent seats and a total capacity of nearly 10,000.

The tallest building in Marathon Park is an exhibition building that was designed by the firm of Oppenhamer And Obel and built in 1924. Located between the judging pavilion and the grandstand, the building consists of a hexagonal-shaped building, with cupola, from which radiate six rectangular wings with gable roofs.