EXHIBITS
The Driftless Historium Museum is an award winning Interpretive Center telling the story of Southwestern Dane County from pre-history to modern day. Over 3,000 square feet of space is dedicated to sharing the lives of our rich cultural heritage. The story is told through carefully chosen artifacts, documents and photographs from the Society's extensive collection. Visit all three of our exhibit areas.
Come and share the fun and learn about the unique Driftless Area of Wisconsin. Hours daily 10am - 4:00 pm. (Weather Closing Policy)
Come and share the fun and learn about the unique Driftless Area of Wisconsin. Hours daily 10am - 4:00 pm. (Weather Closing Policy)
Permanent Exhibit
The Driftless Historium premiered its permanent exhibit in the renovated 2000 square foot exhibit hall, located in the facility’s north wing.
A year and a half in the making this fascinating walk through history will take visitors on a journey from the great glaciers to the present. Along the way meet American Indians, miners, innkeepers, farmers, cheese makers, sports men, preachers, school teachers, shop keepers, tourists and Civilian Conservation Corps participants as you discover their stories through words, documents, photos, and hundreds of artifacts.
The exhibit incorporates all levels of the museum experience from diorama settings, hands on stations, interactive questions, and media outlets. There is something for all ages!
A year and a half in the making this fascinating walk through history will take visitors on a journey from the great glaciers to the present. Along the way meet American Indians, miners, innkeepers, farmers, cheese makers, sports men, preachers, school teachers, shop keepers, tourists and Civilian Conservation Corps participants as you discover their stories through words, documents, photos, and hundreds of artifacts.
The exhibit incorporates all levels of the museum experience from diorama settings, hands on stations, interactive questions, and media outlets. There is something for all ages!
A sampling of subjects you'll discover:
Driftless Land
Immigraton
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Ebenezer Brigham
Cheese Factories
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Tourism
Civil War
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Aslak O. Lie
Agriculture
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NOW SHOWING in the Special Exhibits Gallery through January 05, 2020
“The Newest Americans,” a timely exhibit exploring citizenship and immigration and featuring 33 portraits and interviews of immigrants from 23 countries of origin—including four from the Mount Horeb area, hopes to prompt discussion on America’s legacy as a nation of immigrants and the future of the American dream.
Across the country, immigration is a notoriously loaded and often divisive topic. Against this backdrop, California-based photographer Same Comen and interviewer Michael Estrin set out to capture the experiences of new Americans in the moments following naturalization ceremonies in February and March 2017. Their work resulted in the development of “The Newest Americans: New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them,” a traveling exhibit created in partnership with the California Museum and museum services firm Exhibit Envoy.
The exhibit includes photographs accompanied by text panels presented in English and Spanish, sharing the subjects’ views on why they chose to become American citizens and what the American dream means to them. In addition, exhibit guests will have the opportunity to test their own American moxy by taking a sample civics test—an important part of the application process to become a U.S. citizen, in which an immigration official quizzes prospective citizen with a variety of questions about history, geography and government. (There are 100 possible questions; applicants are asked up to ten questions and must be able to answer at least six correctly.)
Recognizing immigration’s foundational influence on and continued presence in Southwestern Dane County, the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society decided it was important to develop a local extension of the exhibit. Outreach resulted in four foreign-born partners, now proud citizens and integral members of the Mount Horeb community. Exhibit goers will learn about their stories, too.
“Newest Americans” is viewable as part of the Historium’s admission-based guest experience daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. now through January 5, 2020.
An exhibit reception on Friday, December 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. will celebrate the four featured “Newest Americans” from the Mount Horeb area. The reception is free and open to the public.
This installation is made possible by the Mount Horeb Community Foundation. For more information, call 608-437-6486 or email mthorebhistory@mhtc.net.
Across the country, immigration is a notoriously loaded and often divisive topic. Against this backdrop, California-based photographer Same Comen and interviewer Michael Estrin set out to capture the experiences of new Americans in the moments following naturalization ceremonies in February and March 2017. Their work resulted in the development of “The Newest Americans: New Citizens Reflect on What America Means to Them,” a traveling exhibit created in partnership with the California Museum and museum services firm Exhibit Envoy.
The exhibit includes photographs accompanied by text panels presented in English and Spanish, sharing the subjects’ views on why they chose to become American citizens and what the American dream means to them. In addition, exhibit guests will have the opportunity to test their own American moxy by taking a sample civics test—an important part of the application process to become a U.S. citizen, in which an immigration official quizzes prospective citizen with a variety of questions about history, geography and government. (There are 100 possible questions; applicants are asked up to ten questions and must be able to answer at least six correctly.)
Recognizing immigration’s foundational influence on and continued presence in Southwestern Dane County, the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society decided it was important to develop a local extension of the exhibit. Outreach resulted in four foreign-born partners, now proud citizens and integral members of the Mount Horeb community. Exhibit goers will learn about their stories, too.
“Newest Americans” is viewable as part of the Historium’s admission-based guest experience daily 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. now through January 5, 2020.
An exhibit reception on Friday, December 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. will celebrate the four featured “Newest Americans” from the Mount Horeb area. The reception is free and open to the public.
This installation is made possible by the Mount Horeb Community Foundation. For more information, call 608-437-6486 or email mthorebhistory@mhtc.net.
Virtual Tour of the Mount Horeb Area: History in 3D!!
View the exterior, interior and grounds of the Norway Building, constructed for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. At the end of the fair, the building was moved to a Lake Geneva, Wisconsin estate later owned by the Wrigley family of chewing gum fame. Eventually it was moved to Little Norway, a local attraction in rural Blue Mounds.
When Little Norway closed University of Wisconsin - Madison students filmed the building and grounds. The building has since been moved back to Orkanger Norway, where it was originally crafted.
Also on view are the historic Springdale Lutheran Church and a local "hanging" dairy barn, now part of Rare Earth Farm, owned and cared for by Charles Bauer and Charles Beckwith.
View the exterior, interior and grounds of the Norway Building, constructed for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. At the end of the fair, the building was moved to a Lake Geneva, Wisconsin estate later owned by the Wrigley family of chewing gum fame. Eventually it was moved to Little Norway, a local attraction in rural Blue Mounds.
When Little Norway closed University of Wisconsin - Madison students filmed the building and grounds. The building has since been moved back to Orkanger Norway, where it was originally crafted.
Also on view are the historic Springdale Lutheran Church and a local "hanging" dairy barn, now part of Rare Earth Farm, owned and cared for by Charles Bauer and Charles Beckwith.
Kalscheur Room Gallery Exhibits
Temporary changing exhibits are open during regular museum hours in the Kalscheur Family meeting room. These are small installations of various subjects displayed in cases or wall mounted exhibitions.
For additional information on some of the exhibits see our "Events" page.
Temporary changing exhibits are open during regular museum hours in the Kalscheur Family meeting room. These are small installations of various subjects displayed in cases or wall mounted exhibitions.
For additional information on some of the exhibits see our "Events" page.