Contact: Ellen Pincus, Public Relations Manager
Office 608-264-6566
Cell 608-770-2013
ellen.pincus@wisconsinhistory.org
MADISON, WI-The Wisconsin Historical Museum announces a wide array of events for all ages this spring.
Opening Exhibitions
Wisconsin Women of Style: Part Two
On exhibit through March 29, 2014
***New Rotation of all Dresses February 18, 2014
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is changing all the dresses on exhibit on February 18. Part two of the exhibit, Wisconsin Women of Style will feature dresses by Parisian and internationally renown designers!
“Wisconsin fashion” often refers to cold-weather clothing rather than stylish designer wear from Paris and New York. Yet beginning in the late 19th century, there have been Wisconsin women with the means and interest to wear extraordinarily expensive and fashionable clothes. Wisconsin Women of Style showcases significant pieces from the Mount Mary University Historic Costume Collection and the Wisconsin Historical Society. Explore these spectacular gowns and garments and discover the stories of the remarkable Wisconsin women who wore them.
Wisconsin in Watercolor: The Farmscapes of Paul Seifert
Apr 8, 2014 – Aug 30, 2014
See the first major exhibition of acclaimed master Paul Seifert’s Paintings.
German immigrant Paul Seifert came to Wisconsin and lived a varied and creative life on the edges of society but all the while deeply immersed in the Wisconsin River valley landscape of the Driftless Region he called home. He’s best known for his vibrant watercolor farm pictures, which are beloved locally and highly desired by collectors nationally.
Permanent Exhibitions
People of the Woodlands
Explore the stories of Wisconsin’s Native Nations and Tribes.
On Common Ground: Two Hundred Years of Wisconsin History
Explore themes unique to Wisconsin history from settlement days to the present.
March Events
History Sandwiched In: A Schenk-Huegel Family History
Tuesday, March 04, 2014 12:15-1 pm
A century ago, the growth of the Schenk family businesses triggered commercial development and gave a name to Schenk’s Corners. Join Ann Waidelich, Madison historian, Sue Retzlaff, granddaughter of Elsie Schenk and Arthur Huegel, and videographer Gretta Wing Miller as they present the history of the building at the corner of Atwood and Winnebago streets and the history of the Schenk and Huegel families from 1893 to the present.
From Bonnets to Hats, 1830-1930
Mar 8, 2014 1-2 pm
Bonnets used to be the de rigueur headwear for women, but by the 1920s no modern women would be caught dead wearing an old-fashioned bonnet instead of a stylish hat. Leslie Bellais, curator of costume and textiles at the Wisconsin Historical Society, will explore the reasons for this change from bonnets to hats while also looking at stylistic changes over time. She will illustrate her presentation with bonnets and hats from the Society’s collection and reproductions for audience members to model.
History Sandwiched In: ‘Wisconsin Women in the War Between the States’
Mar 18, 2014 12:15-1 pm
Though the contributions of women during the Civil War were many, documentation of their efforts was scattered at best. Join historian John Zimm as he reminds us of the stories Ethel Alice Hurn preserved through findings in collections of letters, newspaper files and interviews. ‘Wisconsin Women in War Between the States’ documents an important turning point in the changing role of women in American society.
April Events
History Sandwiched In: ‘Wisconsin Lighthouses’
Apr 1, 2014 12:15-1 pm
No symbol is more synonymous with Wisconsin’s rich maritime traditions than the lighthouse. Ken and Barb Wardius tell the tales of historic structures and mariners of yesteryear through their photographic and historical guide, ‘Wisconsin Lighthouses: A Photographic and Historical Guide.’ The book takes readers on an intimate tour of lighthouses on Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Winnebago. Come hear about the details about lighthouse vocabulary and the busy lives of light keepers that make this the definitive book on Wisconsin’s Lighthouses. A book signing will follow the presentation.
Taste Traditions of Wisconsin: ‘This Superior Place’
Apr 9, 2014 6:30-8:30 pm
Join Wisconsin Historical Society Press author Dennis McCann as he discusses the history of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. One of Wisconsin’s smallest cities by population, Bayfield is also one of its most popular visitor destinations. In ‘This Superior Place: Stories of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands,’ McCann captures the unique qualities that keep tourists coming back and offers a historically reliable look at the region as it is today and how it came to be. Enjoy a meal that reflects the maritime history of the region, provided by Blue Plate Catering.
Wisconsin Shipwrecks for Kids
Apr 12, 2014 1-1:45 pm
Archaeologist Tamara Thomsen will share stories from beneath the waves of the Great Lakes. Dive in and learn how underwater archaeologists use clues from a shipwreck site to answer questions about the past, such as finding out why a ship sank and what life on the vessel was like for the sailors and passengers. There are approximately 700 shipwrecks in Wisconsin waters, and each one can tell us something unique about Wisconsin’s rich maritime history.
History Sandwiched In: ‘People of the Sturgeon’
Apr 15, 2014 12:15-1 pm
“People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish” chronicles the history of the sturgeon and the cultural traditions this remarkable fish has spawned. Co-author Kathleen Kline will share this story through a fascinating collection of images, stories and interviews. Known to many as the “dinosaur fish,” sturgeon have teetered on the brink of extinction since the late 19th century. Discover how a community-wide effort in the Lake Winnebago region has allowed the sturgeon population there to thrive. A book signing will follow the presentation. Learn more about ‘People of the Sturgeon,’ which is also available as an audio book.
Playtimes of the Past
Apr 18, 2014 10 am-2 pm
Explore a different side of history in this drop-in spring break program. Discover toys and games from Wisconsin’s past, enjoy a snack, and create an art project to take home.+
May Events
Gallery Night at the Wisconsin Historical Museum
May 2, 2014 5-9 pm
Stroll through Wisconsin in Watercolor: The Farmscapes of Paul Seifert, the first major exhibition of paintings by renowned German-immigrant folk artist Paul Seifert. Join us for unique and beautiful art, intriguing Wisconsin history and light refreshments. At 7 pm Wisconsin Historical Society curator Joe Kapler will discuss Seifert’s work and its cultural and historical significance.
The gallery night event at the museum is part of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Gallery Night, celebrating Madison’s thriving art scene with events throughout the city.
History Sandwiched In: Exploring Paul Seifert’s Wisconsin Farm Paintings
May 6, 2014 12:15-1 pm
Reflect with museum curator Joe Kapler and University of Wisconsin-Madison doctoral candidate Sarah Anne Stolte as they discuss the exhibition, Wisconsin in Watercolor: The Farmscapes of Paul Seifert. Learn about the life of this German immigrant artist, his vision of his surroundings and the land that inspired his work. Will you recognize the landscapes? Join us, and see.
Wisconsin Museums Week
May 13, 2014 – May 17, 2014 9 am-4 pm
Celebrate Wisconsin Museum Week with the Wisconsin Historical Museum. Visitors are invited to participate in a special self-guided tour of the museum that will reveal connections between artifacts that may not be obvious at first glance. Wisconsin Museums Week is sponsored by the Wisconsin Federation of Museums.
On Saturday, May 17, enjoy free museum admission and a 10-percent discount in the museum store in honor of International Museum Day. Tour four floors of exhibits to learn the stories of native people, settlement days, immigrants’ experiences and lively politics of Wisconsin.
International Museum Day
May 17, 2014 9 am-4 pm
In honor of International Museum Day, enjoy free museum admission and a 10-percent discount in the museum store. Tour four floors of exhibits to learn the stories of native people, settlement days, immigrants’ experiences and lively politics of Wisconsin.
History Sandwiched In: ‘The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider’
May 20, 2014 12:15-1 pm
Between 1853 and 1929 nearly 150,000 children were transported from New York City to the homes of farm families in almost every state, particularly in the Midwest. Join author and historian Clark Kidder as he brings to light his own research on orphan trains. Kidder tells the story of his paternal grandmother, the late Emily (Reese) Kidder of Milton, who was brought to Wisconsin in 1909 as one of these orphan children. Learn more about ‘Emily’s Story: The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider.’
About the Wisconsin Historical Museum
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is located at 30 N. Carroll St. on Madison’s Capitol Square and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation: $4 per adult, $3 per child or $10 per family. The Museum features four floors of exhibition space and a unique museum store. Call (608) 264-6555 for more information, or visit us online at www.WisconsinHistoricalMuseum.org.
