Author talk on historic gas stations coming to Merrill

The Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Makers Tour will make a stop in Merrill on April 12, 2026, with an author talk at the Merrill Historical Society.
Jim Draeger will present “Fill’er Up,” a program exploring the history and future of gas stations in America. The talk will examine the era when full service and free oil changes were standard and local stations served as community gathering places. Draeger’s presentation will also address why historic gas stations should be preserved and what role these structures might play in modern communities.
The event is part of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s statewide History Makers Tour, which launched in 2023 and continues through July 2026. The tour brings history programming directly to communities across the state through partnerships with local organizations, libraries, and cultural venues.
“The History Makers Tour gives communities across Wisconsin unique opportunities to explore and celebrate the diverse histories that make our state special,” said Sara Batkie, statewide engagement coordinator for the Wisconsin Historical Society.
The tour, presented by Culver’s, includes interactive displays, artifact highlights, author talks, and public programs. Other stops in northcentral Wisconsin this winter and spring include Antigo, Eagle River, Rhinelander, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids.
The initiative aims to connect people with Wisconsin’s history as the society prepares for the opening of the new Wisconsin History Center in late 2027.
For more information about upcoming History Makers Tour events, visit wihist.org/historymakerstour.