Exhibitions at the Wisconsin Historical Museum
That's the Ticket! A Parade of Presidential Elections
April 15 - November 8, 2008
In honor of this year's presidential election season, the museum presents this exhibition chronicling the highlights of past races for the White House, from 1856 (the first contest between the Republican and Democratic parties) through 2004. Included are more than 400 artifacts and photographs from the rich collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society — political campaign buttons, ribbons, bumper stickers, handbills, broadsides, tickets, pennants, clothing, novelties, and more.
Chris Farley Remembered
May 6 - November 15, 2008
Celebrate the life of comedian and Madison native Chris Farley with this exhibition featuring clothing, props, ephemera, and photographs from his years in Wisconsin and from his career. Artifacts include items from Second City and Saturday Night Live (SNL) and from the films Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Ninja, and Almost Heroes. Video clips highlight some of Farley's best SNL moments. The exhibit opens in conjunction with the release of a new biography, The Chris Farley Show, co-written by his brother Tom Farley.
Odd Wisconsin
Opens October 3rd, 2008
WARNING! Objects Are More Intriguing Than They First Appear!
How did a rock, a plastic pink flamingo, and a few strips of aluminum make history? Why did a family collect skunk oil in a jar? How did a Wisconsin Congressman come to possess a 7-foot-long bowie knife? From séances and college pranks to assassinations and the fight for civil rights, Odd Wisconsin features scores of curious and authentic artifacts, documents, and images which may surprise, perplex, and astonish you. Odd Wisconsin... satisfy your curiosity.
Permanent Exhibits
People of the Woodlands: Wisconsin Indian Ways
Second Floor Galleries
Stories of native people living in Wisconsin before
and after the fur trade. Enter an Aztalan-style house and discover
the seasonal activities of Woodland peoples in the 1800s and 1900s.
Unearth the work of archaeologists.
On Common Ground: Two Hundred Years of Wisconsin History
Third and Fourth Floor Galleries
Explore themes unique to Wisconsin history from settlement days to the present. Discover a frontier lead mine, track immigration routes to the state, explore work and play in a lumber camp, and examine Wisconsin's political heritage.
Online Exhibits
Our collection of exhibits from the past and the present, online for your enjoyment.
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