Oconomowoc designed its City Hall to be a full-service governmental and civic headquarters. The building housed all city functions and offices including police and fire departments, municipal court and the offices of the mayor and city clerk. Like many small town civic buildings, it served as a major center of social and cultural activity. The first activity held in the new city hall was a meeting of the Farmer¿s Institute in 1887.

Well-known Wisconsin architect George B. Ferry designed the building. He chose a striking Romantic Revival design, dominated by a tall clock tower in the center of the front façade. The tower¿s triple arched lancet windows decorate the tower just below the clock face. The most striking aspect of the design is the incorporation of 18 orange and turquoise stained glass transoms above the windows. Matching orange brick originally trimmed the building and orange wood framing once marked the first story entrance in the tower.

The original plan of the building included jail cells, courtrooms and judge¿s chambers, and a staged auditorium with a ticket office and dressing rooms. In more recent years, the building has changed to support the evolving needs of local government, but retains much it its historic charm.

The building is publicly owned and open during normal business hours.