Thursday, June 25, 2015
Wisconsin Museums & Historic Sites E-Newsletter
History Lover 

What could the Egyptian pyramids have to do with Wisconsin history? Pictured back row, 3rd to left, is Violet Dousman, daughter of Nina and H. Louis Dousman, builder of Villa Louis.

Visit Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien to learn more about the privileged Victorian Dousman family, how they lived, and what they wore (Wisconsin Women of Style exhibit on now!).   


 
Friday, June 26 & Sunday, June 28, 2015
Tours depart at 10am and 2:30pm 

See Villa Louis from top to bottom. These extended tours of the mansion will give visitors a glimpse into the life of a historic house museum and will highlight the care and keeping of a unique object from the Dousman collection.Tours include visits to the nooks and crannies of this restored mansion. Learn More
Saturday, July 18 - Sunday, July 19
10am - 5pm 

Visit a historic encampment and battle re-enactment on Wisconsin's only War of 1812 battlefield, now the west lawn of the Villa Louis estate.

Learn about the British assault on U.S. Fort Shelby in a battle scenario Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Tour the camps and learn about military life in 1814. Learn More
Wednesday, July 1 - Thursday, July 2, 2015 
9am - 4pm
   
Celebrate Circus World's 56th Anniversary with a remarkable $5.00 admission rate for these two days only. Circus World first opened to the public with an admission price of 60 cents. Given the rate of inflation, 60 cents works out to about $5 today; and even though Circus World has added over 200 wagons and vehicles, several new and historic structures, and over 60 acres of circus splendor to our offerings... the admission for these days will be the same as 1959.  Learn More 


Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28, 2015
10am - 4pm 

Bad River Ojibwe artist April Stone-Dahl demonstrates the making of both traditional and contemporary black ash baskets, from the pounding of a debarked ash log to the delicate weaving of narrow strips of wood into beautiful and utilitarian works of art. Ms. Stone-Dahl will also demonstrate the art of birch bark basket making. Join her Saturday for a children's basket making workshop!
 
Saturday, July 4
10:30 - 5pm 

Independence Day traditionally marks the beginning of the summer season on Madeline Island. The whole community celebrates with a festive parade through La Pointe, ending with a patriotic program on the Madeline Island Museum green.  Learn More
 
Friday, July 10
4:30 - 7:30pm 

Local Artist Neal Aspinall's work is synonymous with the Geneva Lake region. Neal's work often brings the streamlined imagery and composition of the 1930s and 1940s into the modern era. Join Neal on our Veranda for an afternoon of art, history, and discussion. Neal will also debut a new Black Point Estate design. Learn More
 
"Ma's Tale" is free with museum admission.

See Fox 6 Milwaukee's Laura Langemo step into Laura Ingalls Wilder's world!
Through July 31, 10 am to 5 pm

Now's your chance to channel your inner pioneer and try some of the activities you've read about in the books by Wisconsin-born Laura Ingalls Wilder. Check out "Ma's Tale"-a new, interactive storytelling experience, shared from the perspective of Laura's mother Caroline, herself born in Old World Wisconsin's neighboring Waukesha County! Activities change throughout; click to view the schedule. 
 
Admission Special: Dress as a character from one of the Little House books and receive 20% discount on individual admission!

Facebook Contest: 
Post a picture of yourself in your Little House gear on our Facebook page at facebook.com/OldWorldWisconsin and you could win a Wisconsin Historical Society History Lover Membership ($100 value)! We'll randomly draw one winner. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By participating you agree to a complete release of Facebook from any claims.


July 26; dinner begins at 6 pm

Celebrate at an interactive, theatrical pioneer wedding with food, drink, music, dancing . . . and fun! All in our big, red Clausing Barn.

Learn More or call 262-594-6301.

Join us for three days packed with fun, games and patriotic activities. Try climbing the greased pole, help hand-crank ice cream, enter the pie-eating contest and test your muscles in a tug-o-war competition.

On July 4 we'll pull out the stops for a grand old parade through the 1880s village plus lots more!  On July 5 you may purchase and enjoy an old-fashioned, country village picnic with all the fixin's. 

Learn More or call 262-594-6301.

Come see Old World Wisconsin's Eagle Diamonds as they welcome the Milwaukee Grays for an afternoon of family friendly fun! We'll be playing on our new field, conveniently located not far from our main entrance. 

Join the team for warmups before the game or afterwards and try out our historic equipment! Admission to the game is included with museum admission.

Learn More or call 262-594-6301.
Pre-schoolers through high schoolers!
Friday, June 26, 2015 
10 am - 12 pm 

Stop by for outdoor historic games and activities. Enjoy games invented by the Native Peoples of Wisconsin, those played by early American settlers, and some that even date back to Ancient Greece. Madison Central Library and Madison Children's Museum will provide additional family fun activities. This series runs Fridays throughout the summer! Learn More 
Saturday, June 27, 2015 
10 am - 12 pm 

Flex your bicycling muscles and join the Wisconsin Historical Museum and the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation on a bike tour of the Madison's historic East Isthmus. Take a deeper look at Madison's cultural, architectural, and development history while riding along on two wheels. Advance registration required for this event. Learn More 


Savvy City Cycling is a bicycle commuting workshop for all levels of experience and especially for adults. Whether you've been riding for a while and want to commute to work or school, or just starting out and need to learn the basics, this workshop is for you. The workshop will cover safety, rules of the road, and share tips and tricks for making your bike part of your daily life. Learn More 

Bill Christofferson, author of The Man from Clear Lake, explores the life of Gaylord Nelson, beginning with Nelson's time growing up in Wisconsin and his political life in our state, as well as his work as a US senator and his role as one of the leading environmentalists of the 20th century. Learn More

Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28, 2015 
10am - 5pm
 

The Wade House kitchen will be busy as staff and guests alike take turns working dashes and cranks until their arms get weary. Butter will be made from fresh cream by moving a dash (staff) up and down within a stoneware plunge churn. Homemade ice cream will be made using a hand crank ice cream maker, comprised of an outer bowl and smaller inner bowl with a paddle for stirring.

 

Guests will be rewarded for their hard work with a sample of the dairy products that they helped to make. There will also be ice cream from Kelley Country Creamery in Eden for sale that day on the side lawn of the Wade House as well as at the site's Butternut Caf�. Learn More



Saturdays, July 11, August 22 and October 17, 2015  
8am - 11am

Help prepare an 1860s breakfast in the Wade House kitchens, working the open hearth or period cookstove, and savor the hearty meal in the inn's dining room. 
 
Limited seating; reservations required.  $35 per person. Learn More
There's still time to reserve your spot!

Pioneer Day Camp
Kids learn the art of blacksmithing, woodworking, candle making, sewing, hearth cooking and more. Learn More
 
Civil War Day Camp
Camp activities may include marching, setting up camp and cooking over an open fire, taking care of the homestead and writing letters to soldiers. Learn More
 
Needle Arts Day Camp
These camps are a creative, fun and educational way for your child to learn the tradition of needle arts in a historic setting. Learn More 
June - July, 2015    

We invite you to join us as we visit Superior, where the Douglas County Historical Society hosts the standing exhibit of the Wisconsin History Tour through July. Learn More
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