EXHIBITS
The Driftless Historium 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.
Visit all three of our exhibit areas: our Permanent Exhibit that tells this area's story through engaging graphics and carefully chosen artifacts, documents and photographs from the Society's extensive collections; rotating exhibits in our Special Exhibits Gallery (see below for a description of the latest exhibit); and changing gallery shows in the Kalscheur Family Foundation Community Education Room (see below).
Also visit our virtual reality kiosk as you virtually walk through three local historical sites.
Come and share the fun and learn about the unique Driftless Area of Wisconsin. Hours daily, 10am - 4:00 pm. (Weather Closing Policy)
Visit all three of our exhibit areas: our Permanent Exhibit that tells this area's story through engaging graphics and carefully chosen artifacts, documents and photographs from the Society's extensive collections; rotating exhibits in our Special Exhibits Gallery (see below for a description of the latest exhibit); and changing gallery shows in the Kalscheur Family Foundation Community Education Room (see below).
Also visit our virtual reality kiosk as you virtually walk through three local historical sites.
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 permanent exhibit is housed in the renovated 2,000-square-foot exhibit hall, located in the facility’s north wing.
This fascinating walk through history takes visitors on a journey from the great glaciers to the present. Along the way, meet American Indians, miners, innkeepers, farmers, cheese makers, sportsmen, preachers, school teachers, shop keepers, tourists and Civilian Conservation Corps participants as you discover their stories through vivid text panels, historical documents and photographs, and hundreds of artifacts.
The exhibit incorporates all levels of the museum experience from traditional text panels to life-sized diorama settings, hands-on interactive stations to multimedia displays. There is something for all ages!
This fascinating walk through history takes visitors on a journey from the great glaciers to the present. Along the way, meet American Indians, miners, innkeepers, farmers, cheese makers, sportsmen, preachers, school teachers, shop keepers, tourists and Civilian Conservation Corps participants as you discover their stories through vivid text panels, historical documents and photographs, and hundreds of artifacts.
The exhibit incorporates all levels of the museum experience from traditional text panels to life-sized diorama settings, hands-on interactive stations to multimedia displays. There is something for all ages!
A sampling of subjects you'll discover:
Driftless Landscape Explained
Immigraton
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Ebenezer Brigham: Dane County's First Permanent Settler
Cheese Factories: The Dairy State's Heritage
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Tourism In and Around Mount Horeb
Civil War
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Carpenter and Craftsman Aslak O. Lie
Agriculture
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Get ready for your visit!
Download the companion Scavenger Hunt HERE.
Download the companion Scavenger Hunt HERE.
Kalscheur Room Gallery Exhibits
Because of COVID-19 we have made outside access to this exhibit space. The Historium’s
Walk-up Gallery, a COVID-era adaptation, provides an awning-sheltered, handicapped-accessible, outdoor venue for art appreciation at the front of our building.
Temporary changing exhibits are open during regular museum hours in the Kalscheur Family Foundation Community Education Room. These are small installations of various subjects displayed in cases or as wall mounted exhibitions.
For additional information on current exhibits see our "Events" page.
Because of COVID-19 we have made outside access to this exhibit space. The Historium’s
Walk-up Gallery, a COVID-era adaptation, provides an awning-sheltered, handicapped-accessible, outdoor venue for art appreciation at the front of our building.
Temporary changing exhibits are open during regular museum hours in the Kalscheur Family Foundation Community Education Room. These are small installations of various subjects displayed in cases or as wall mounted exhibitions.
For additional information on current exhibits see our "Events" page.
TEMPORARILY CLOSED due to public health concerns
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 where generations of visitors experienced its unique charms. Several years after Little Norway closed to the public, the building was moved back to Orkanger, Norway, where it was originally created.
Weeks before the Norway Building was dismantled and moved back to Norway, researchers at UW-Madison's Wisconsin Institute for Discovery scanned the structure and recreated it as a high resolution, 3D reconstruction. Using state-of-the-art technology, visitors to the Driftless Historium can once again experience this unique building as they virtually "walk" through and around the Norway Building at our 3D kiosk.
Also on view are 3D reconstructions of 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.
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 where generations of visitors experienced its unique charms. Several years after Little Norway closed to the public, the building was moved back to Orkanger, Norway, where it was originally created.
Weeks before the Norway Building was dismantled and moved back to Norway, researchers at UW-Madison's Wisconsin Institute for Discovery scanned the structure and recreated it as a high resolution, 3D reconstruction. Using state-of-the-art technology, visitors to the Driftless Historium can once again experience this unique building as they virtually "walk" through and around the Norway Building at our 3D kiosk.
Also on view are 3D reconstructions of 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.