Chippewa Valley Museum

Dive into the Chippewa Valley at the Chippewa Valley Museum! If you're visiting and want to get a feel for what we're about ... If you live here and are looking for easy entertainment ... or if you're just looking for family activities that don't break the budget, this is the place for you.

The museum is set among the trees of Carson Park. There's a lot of stuff inside! The day I arrived, I came with my friend, Marina. By the end of the day, she said, "You really like maps, don't you?" I guess it was obvious. :)

There's huge posters of old photographs. They're so huge, that the people in them are life-sized. Tons of historical maps are on the walls, too. If you are staying in the area, see if you can find it on the maps.

Native American history has a large place at the museum, but it doesn't stop there. Immigrants of Norway, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and elsewhere all came to the area to work and live. There's even a special section on the Amish.

The Native American section brings to light the many groups that lived in Wisconsin. Interactive maps show the Chippewa Trail, the local Sioux population, and why they never called themselves that name.

If you're interested in researching local Native American groups, stop in to see which you should be looking at. The gift shop has several books on Native Americans. I've already bought one about the Chippewa and it's quite good.

The museum is made for the up close and personal. There's pot luck food displays with commentary on ethnic foods. A Catholic baptismal that was donated or rescued from a local church is there. You'll gain a better understanding of the daily life.

Neighboring towns like Menomonie, Chippewa, and Augusta are also featured in the Chippewa Valley Museum. People brought crafts to the area from their native countries like egg painting and quilting. Before you visit these towns, discover their history.

At the end, be prepared that your kids are going to want to stop at the old fashioned ice cream parlor. I got caught up in the gift shop. There's some really good local history books there. In fact, I grabbed one as a gift for my husband -- he loves history.

The Chippewa Valley Museum is the first place you should look for local history. Even though I've lived most of my life here, there was a lot for me to discover. What will you find?

During the summer, consider checking out the museum next door.