Friday, January 17, 2025
History Maker Space Announces a Polka-Inspired Winter Event and Welcomes Spring with Continued “History Sandwiched In” Programming
The Wisconsin Historical Society’s History Maker Space in downtown Madison announces "History Sandwiched In" Spring 2025' sessions and a nod to National Polka Month
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce upcoming programming for winter and kick off an eventful spring with continued “History Sandwiched In” noontime programming at the History Maker Space. Located in U.S. Bank Plaza on Capitol Square, the History Maker Space offers a temporary venue for education and public programming as well as a retail store during the construction of the new Wisconsin History Center.
This January, guests are invited to celebrate National Polka Month with a lively music event featuring Wisconsin’s polka king, Mike Schneider. And with spring’s arrival, the space invites visitors back to its “History Sandwiched In” programming with a new set of scholars, historians, authors and community members sharing stories from across the state. These versed experts in Wisconsin history will share their research and work, diving into fascinating tales from great lakes shipwrecks to historic recipes found in the pages of Wisconsin’s newspapers. Guests will gain insight into the work of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his Taliesin, the history of Wisconsin’s theaters and entertainment venues, and much more. Check out these upcoming events below:
Mike Schneider Presents the History of Polka Music
Thursday, January 30, 2025, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Come discover the history of the “happiest music on earth,” polka, with Mike Schneider, a six-time polka hall of fame award winner and renowned accordion player. Practiced in bringing the joy of polka to audiences, Mike has played over 1,700 family-friendly shows in 30 states, and he looks forward to sharing the enriching history of polka music during National Polka Month! In this lecture-style presentation, uncover the lore of Wisconsin’s Official State Dance, tracing the history of polka music from its Eastern European roots to the dance halls and festivals of our state. Live polka music is included! This event is $10 and free for children under five. Society members receive a 10% discount. Read about this event here.
History Sandwiched In Spring 2025
History Sandwiched In provides a crash course on the state's past, with presentations by scholars, historians, authors, and community members from across Wisconsin and the United States. These engaging talks, highlighting Wisconsin’s varied and rich past, cover a wide range of historical topics and are held select Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The events are free to attend. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Mar. 4 – Bob Silbernagel presents “The Cadottes: A Fur Trade Family on Lake Superior”
Bob Silbernagel is a journalist and newspaper columnist who will take listeners on a fascinating historic journey, sharing the history of a French-Ojibwe family with a focus on the years 1760 to 1840. The Cadottes were a notable family that made political, social and economic contributions for decades to the greater Lake Superior Region. Grounding the stories within the areas fur trading industry, Silbernagel will highlight Ojibwe-French Canadian Michel Cadotte and his Ojibwe wife, Equaysayway, who traded and were regional leaders on Madeline Island.
Mar. 18 – Jim Willaert presents “The Wade Family: One Frontier at a Time”
Jim Willaert is the lead curator at Wade House, a historic site dedicated to sharing the story of the Wade Family of Greenbush Wisconsin and horse-powered carriage history. In his presentation, Willaert will detail the Wade family’s lore, beginning with Sylvanus and Betsey—the first European settlers to establish themselves in Greenbush. He will go on to share the stories of their children and grandchildren, explore the daily lives of settlers, and discuss the era of horse-drawn travel and plank roads. Taking listeners to a bygone era, don’t miss this enlightening presentation about the family that established one of Wisconsin’s most cherished historic sites.
April 15 – Keiran Murphy presents “Taliesin Lived Wherever Frank Lloyd Wright Stood: Taliesin II and Its Destructive Fire in April 1925”
Most Wisconsinites are familiar with legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright—but few know of the loss Wright endured when his iconic home, Taliesin, suffered two devastating fires, the second of which occurred in April 1925 and led to its destruction. Undeterred, Wright rebuilt the famed home, setting the stage for additional chapters to the Taliesin story. Speaker Keiran Murphy, who worked at Taliesin for over 25 years as a researcher, historian and guide, provides insight into the fascinating history of Taliesin to paint a portrait of the architect, his life, work and more.
April 29 – Kendra Kennedy presents “Shipwrecked in Wisconsin: Tales from the Lakes”
Despite being hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, Wisconsin is home to countless shipwrecks, speaking to the power and might of the state’s waters. Although Lakes Michigan and Superior have long provided nourishment and connection, our inland seas have also taken their toll with shipwrecks. From wrecks that lie deep in the depths almost beyond our reach to shallow wrecks visible to kayakers, snorkelers, and swimmers, get ready to dive into the hidden history of Wisconsin's impressive waters.
May 13 – Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden present “Extra! Extra! Eat All About It! Recipes and Culinary Curiosities from Historic Wisconsin Newspapers"
Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden are historians who poured hundreds of research hours into their new book that pays homage to Wisconsin’s culinary past. In this noontime program, the two will offer insight into Wisconsin’s food history, discussing the social aspects of dining, the banana's arrival on the Midwest menu, early twentieth century health food recipes and the development of new kitchen gadgets and techniques. By sharing how quirky food fashions made their way to Wisconsin and how recipes made their way into the state’s newspapers, Conway and Ramsden are serving up an engaging segment all about food!
May 27 – Jim Draeger presents “Picture Perfect: The Architecture of Wisconsin Theaters”
Take a seat and settle in for the show as Jim Draeger discusses the evolution of Wisconsin movie theaters from the opera houses and nickelodeons of the gilded age to the movie palaces of the jazz age. As vaudeville gave way to "flickers" and "talkies," the architecture of these show houses also changed to better suit new performance mediums and evolving audience expectations. This will be one show to not miss!
Learn more about “History Sandwiched In Spring 2025” programming here.
1 S. Pinckney Street
Madison, WI 53703
The History Maker Space serves as a temporary venue for the Wisconsin Historical Society’s ongoing programming on Capitol Square while the new Wisconsin History Center is being built. Programming includes pop-up exhibits, author talks, public presentations, family programming and history center updates during construction of the new museum.
About The Wisconsin History Center
The new Wisconsin History Center is coming to Madison’s Capitol Square, at the intersection of Carroll and State Street, in 2027. The new center will feature 100,000 sq. ft. of dedicated public programming and exhibition space and will be able to accommodate more than 200,000 visitors per year. The five-story building will feature three permanent galleries, a rotating community gallery, and a changing gallery large enough to bring in the nation’s most sought-after traveling exhibits. The center will also feature a classroom, lunchroom, café, retail and event space. Four outdoor terraces, with setbacks offering stunning views of the State Capitol and area lakes, will be available for private events and public programming. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org/historycenter.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
