Object Histories

Agriculture / Indigenous Wisconsin / Lac du Flambeau / Object Histories / Ethnicity & Identity / Curators' Favorites / Region 2 - North East / Vilas County / 1987-2011 / Ricing Sticks

OBJECT HISTORY: Wild Rice Threshing Machine

Harvested in the early autumn, wild rice has long been an important commodity to Native Americans, including the Ojibwe, who lived in areas where it grew abundantly. This improvised wild rice threshing machine was made and used by Duane Poupart, Sr., a…

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November 17, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OBJECT HISTORY: Ringling Theater Usher Uniform

On November 17, 1915, the Ringling Theatre opened in the city of Baraboo, Wisconsin; the newest movie palace in the area at a time, these venues were becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. Movie palaces were a curated experience, where one…

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July 17, 2024