Wisconsin 101

OBJECT HISTORY: Chevy Caprice

General Motors was the largest car manufacturing corporation in the world in the 1960s, and the assembly of the 100 millionth General Motors vehicle, a marina blue 1967 Chevrolet Caprice with a soft black top and complementary blue interior, was a significant…

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February 17, 2025

Lac du Flambeau / Odanah / Ricing Sticks / Broad History / Indigenous Wisconsin / Agriculture / Ashland County / New Object Histories / Food & Cooking / Object Histories / Ethnicity & Identity / Region 1 - North West / Region 2 - North East / Vilas County

OBJECT HISTORY: Ricing Sticks (Bawa’iganaakoog)

Bawa’iganaakoog, threshers, or knockers, are all words used to refer to the sticks used for the harvesting of wild rice. Wild rice holds extreme cultural importance to Ojibwe culture for several reasons beyond basic sustenance; not only can it be dried and…

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November 16, 2024

East Troy / John Potter's Monster Knife / New Object Histories / Object Histories / Walworth County / 1848-1877 / Politics & Government / Region 8 - South East

OBJECT HISTORY: John Fox Potter’s “Monster Knife”

Measuring over six feet in length and weighing thirty-two pounds, this gigantic folding knife belonged to Wisconsin representative John Fox “Bowie Knife” Potter who was famous as a dedicated abolitionist and infamous for his willingness to use physical force on the United…

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October 29, 2024

Hawks Inn / Delafield / New Object Histories / Object Histories / 1787-1848 / 1848-1877 / Waukesha County / Politics & Government / Transportation & Tourism / Region 8 - South East

OBJECT HISTORY: Hawks Inn

Standing at two-and-a-half stories, with a side-gabled roof and paired end chimneys, and painted white with black shutters, the image of Hawks Inn would have filled travelers with hope and relief during their trek along the stagecoach route from Milwaukee to Madison,…

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September 25, 2024

Greendale / Slaske's Tools / New Object Histories / Milwaukee County / Object Histories / Manufacturing & Trade / Politics & Government / Society & Religion / 1918-1945 / Region 8 - South East

OBJECT HISTORY: Jack Slaske’s Tool Set

In the holdings of the Greendale Historical Society is an unassuming set of tools, comprised of hand saws, planes, braces and drill bits, among other items. Though these were mass manufactured and similar tools exist all across the country, these particular tools…

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August 14, 2024

Music, Theatre & Cinema / Usher Uniform / Baraboo / New Object Histories / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Object Histories / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / Sauk County / 1900-1918 / Region 7 - South Center

OBJECT HISTORY: Ringling Theater Usher Uniform

Usher's Uniform Coat, from the collection of the Sauk County Historical Society.Usher's Uniform Pants, from the collection of the Sauk County Historical Society.Usher's Uniform Hat, from the collection of the Sauk County Historical Society. On November 17, 1915, the Ringling Theatre opened…

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July 17, 2024