Check out all the fun activities, engaging programs, classes and exhibits offered by WCHS!
Also visit our museums to explore local history through exhibits, tours and more!
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Programs and Classes |
Food For Thought Series |
Learn on your lunch hour! The Food For Thought learning series takes place at the Winona County History Center. Programs, Films, and Book Chats begin at 12:05 p.m. and last approximately one hour (unless otherwise noted). The 4th Wednesday of each month, a book is discussed by the FFT Book Chat group, but all are welcome to partake. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. A beverage is served. All are free and open to the public.
Book Chat, A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, June 26, 12:05 p.m.
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose (from Amazon Book description). Book Chat Girl on the Leeside, by Kathleen Anne Kenney, July 24, 12:05 p.m. Siobhan Doyle grew up with her Uncle Kee at their family pub, the Leeside, in rural Ireland. Kee has been staunchly overprotective of Siobhan ever since her mother’s death in an IRA bombing, but now that she’s an adult, it’s clear that in protecting her, Kee has unwittingly kept her in a state of arrested development. The pair are content to remain forever in their quiet haven, reading and discussing Irish poetry, but for both Siobhan and Kee, fate intervenes. A visiting American literary scholar awakens Siobhan to the possibility of a fulfilling life away from The Leeside. And her relationship with Kee falters after the revelation that her father is still alive. In the face of these changes, Siobhan reaches a surprising decision about her future. Lyrical and heartfelt, Kathleen Anne Kenney’s Girl on the Leeside deserves a place alongside contemporary literature’s best-loved coming-of-age novels. (from Amazon Book description). Program Victorian VR: A History of Stereo Photography with Bob Taunt, August 14, 12:05 p.m. Bob Taunt is an author and historian, former president of the La Crosse County Historical Society, who has been sharing history in the tri state area for over 25 years. Bob will explore the world of Stereo photography - pictures in 3-D ! The process was invented in the 1850’s, and stereo photography very popular through World War I, and continues today. Come see and hear about the history of Stereoviews, and learn how to make your own stereo photographs using the digital camera, and your computer. Bob Taunt is also a photographer, who has built his own cameras and taken many stereo photos over the years. He will talk about the history of and the how-to-do Stereo Photography. Book Chat My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult, August 28, 12:05 p.m. My Sister’s Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life, even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less? Should you follow your own heart, or let others lead you? Once again, in My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult tackles a controversial real-life subject with grace, wisdom, and sensitivity. (from Amazon Book description). |
Programs and
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Warrior Writers Workshop with the Minnesota Humanities Center
July 13, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Winona County History Center, free The Minnesota Humanities Center is bringing their Warrior Writers Workshop to Winona at the History Center on July 13. The workshop provides a safe space for Veterans to tell their own stories, using prompts and discussion covering a variety of military issues and experiences. This workshop encourages sharing stories, opinions, and ideas for productive writing, reflecting, storytelling, and art-making. A highlight of this workshop for many veterans is having a space to release bottled-up thoughts and emotions alongside others who understand, creating a sense of empowerment in the ability to tell their own story. By creating an open and accepting atmosphere, they build a community of support. This workshop is for any service member or veteran regardless of experiences with writing, combat, art, deployment, etc. Find more information and register online. What’s It All For? August 10, 1 p.m., Winona County History Center, Free. Art of Fine Furniture artists, Roger Knudson and Mark Laub discuss functionality of design coupled with artistic beauty of design; what is means for a piece to be “handmade;” the values of original design and copies; and how working with a buyer affects design choices. Each artist takes different views of the approaches to a functionality - artistic “continuum”. Both have different points of view; Mark, the wild Hungarian vs. the dour simplistic Scandinavian, Roger. There is, or should be, a story behind a piece by a “maker” of fine artistic furniture, and Roger and Mark have plenty. These two intelligent, fun, and very talented guys will be a thrill to hear from and visit with during this special program that wraps up the Art of Fine Furniture 2019. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. |
Classes |
Pioneer School
The Society’s fun Pioneer School day camp will have two session to choose from this summer! They will be held July 23-24 and July 29-30, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day. Pioneer School is for 1st-8th graders at the Gainey-McCarthy Schoolhouse at the Rural Heritage Museum in St. Charles, Minnesota. Students explore life as a pioneer student with class lessons, games, crafts, and more. Pioneer School is taught be a licensed teacher with a partnership with the Winona State University Education Department, with future teachers offering special lessons and activities. WSU was founded as the Winona Normal School, the first west of the Mississippi, opening in 1858. Teachers were trained there and were sent to the surrounding area schools in our rural region. Registration is open and you can register your pioneer student by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stop in at the Tickets Desk at the Winona County History Center. Pioneer School costs $50 per student or $40 for WCHS members. Space is limited! |
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History on the River |
History on the River, our educational cruises, will be back for another season this summer! Join us out on the river on either the Cal Fremling or Winona Tour Boat, both leaving from the Winona Levee. Cruises are on Thursday evenings, and are 90 minutes long with a program and sightseeing time. A variety of refreshments are included with each cruise as well.
Tickets will go on sale for WCHS members May 1 and then to the public May 6 and are sold in advance at the History Center or by calling 507.454.2723 ext. 0. Tickets are $27 for non-members and $22 for WCHS members. Save with our pick 3 option, and go on your choice of any 3 History on the River cruises for $75 for non-members or $60 for our members.
Parking is available near the Levee off Johnson St. and Walnut St. as well as on Cal Fremling Drive. The Cal Fremling (CF) is docked near Johnson St., and the Winona Tour Boat (WTB) is near Walnut Street.
Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to the listed departure time on the schedule below. Please note the changing departure times as we near the end of the season when the sun sets earlier.
Weather related cancellations will be determined 4 hours prior to departure time and are decided by the captain. We will go in rain. Plan that the cruise will go unless you get a call from us. If a cruise is cancelled due to weather or river conditions, ticket holders can choose another cruise or can be issued a refund, otherwise cruise tickets are non-refundable. Any cancelled cruise topics are not rescheduled.
2019 Cruise Program Topic Schedule
Date, Departure time, program, aboard CF – Cal Fremling, WTB – Winona Tour Boat
June
13, 7:00 - Steamboat Stories with Robert Taunt, CF
20, 7:00 - Indigenous Women Leaders and Their Communities with Audrey Thayer and Colette Hyman, CF
27, 7:00 - Rockin’ on the River with Jeani and the Dreamers, WTB
July
4, - NO CRUISE, Have a great Independence Day!
11, 7:00 - History of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge: Will Dilg to Today with Ranger Edward Lagace, CF
18, 7:00 - Photographing the River: Then and Now with Mary Farrell, CF (Bring your camera if you wish!)
25, 7:00 - Winona’s Boathouse Communities, WTB
August
1, 7:00 - Wood, Concrete, Stone and Steel: Minnesota’s Historic Bridges with Denis Gardner, CF
8, 7:00 - Mississippi, Missouri, or Big Muddy: What’s in a Name? with Dean Klinkenberg, CF
15, 7:00 - Sifting Through the Years: The History of Bay State with Al Simanovski CF
22, 6:30 - Rockin’ on the River with Jeani and the Dreamers, CF SOLD OUT
29, 6:30 - Winona’s Railroad History, with Erik Brom, WTB
September
5, 6:00 - Steamboat Stories with Robert Taunt, CF
12, 6:00 - Mammals of the Upper Mississippi with Ranger Edward Lagace, CF
19, 5:30 - Eagles on the Mississippi with the National Eagle Center, CF
26, 5:30 - The Lock and Dam System of the Mississippi, WTB
Tickets will go on sale for WCHS members May 1 and then to the public May 6 and are sold in advance at the History Center or by calling 507.454.2723 ext. 0. Tickets are $27 for non-members and $22 for WCHS members. Save with our pick 3 option, and go on your choice of any 3 History on the River cruises for $75 for non-members or $60 for our members.
Parking is available near the Levee off Johnson St. and Walnut St. as well as on Cal Fremling Drive. The Cal Fremling (CF) is docked near Johnson St., and the Winona Tour Boat (WTB) is near Walnut Street.
Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to the listed departure time on the schedule below. Please note the changing departure times as we near the end of the season when the sun sets earlier.
Weather related cancellations will be determined 4 hours prior to departure time and are decided by the captain. We will go in rain. Plan that the cruise will go unless you get a call from us. If a cruise is cancelled due to weather or river conditions, ticket holders can choose another cruise or can be issued a refund, otherwise cruise tickets are non-refundable. Any cancelled cruise topics are not rescheduled.
2019 Cruise Program Topic Schedule
Date, Departure time, program, aboard CF – Cal Fremling, WTB – Winona Tour Boat
June
13, 7:00 - Steamboat Stories with Robert Taunt, CF
20, 7:00 - Indigenous Women Leaders and Their Communities with Audrey Thayer and Colette Hyman, CF
27, 7:00 - Rockin’ on the River with Jeani and the Dreamers, WTB
July
4, - NO CRUISE, Have a great Independence Day!
11, 7:00 - History of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge: Will Dilg to Today with Ranger Edward Lagace, CF
18, 7:00 - Photographing the River: Then and Now with Mary Farrell, CF (Bring your camera if you wish!)
25, 7:00 - Winona’s Boathouse Communities, WTB
August
1, 7:00 - Wood, Concrete, Stone and Steel: Minnesota’s Historic Bridges with Denis Gardner, CF
8, 7:00 - Mississippi, Missouri, or Big Muddy: What’s in a Name? with Dean Klinkenberg, CF
15, 7:00 - Sifting Through the Years: The History of Bay State with Al Simanovski CF
22, 6:30 - Rockin’ on the River with Jeani and the Dreamers, CF SOLD OUT
29, 6:30 - Winona’s Railroad History, with Erik Brom, WTB
September
5, 6:00 - Steamboat Stories with Robert Taunt, CF
12, 6:00 - Mammals of the Upper Mississippi with Ranger Edward Lagace, CF
19, 5:30 - Eagles on the Mississippi with the National Eagle Center, CF
26, 5:30 - The Lock and Dam System of the Mississippi, WTB
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Fundraisers and Special Events |
Upcoming WCHS Fundraiser Events
- Voices From the Past Cemetery Walk, October 12 & 13, 2019
- Christmas House Tour, December 6, 2020 (offered even numbered years)
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Exhibits and Openings |
2019 Slaggie Family Lobby Exhibit Schedule
The Art of Fine Furniture 2019, Now - August 10
The 7th annual Art of Fine Furniture exhibition is sure to delight again! Showcasing the historic talents of fine furniture making, the pieces in each annual exhibit are handcrafted by regional artists and craftsmen and are testaments to age old woodworking skills with artistry of design, and are sure to be future heirloom pieces admired for generations. Founded in 2013 The Art of Fine Furniture is an annual exhibit featuring the creations of professional and hobbyist studio furniture makers. Related educational and inspirational workshops and discussions encourage professionals and aspiring amateurs alike to think deeper about the works they create and to push themselves to create new extraordinary works. Also learn more at theartoffinefurniture.com! Free admission to the exhibition!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional sponsorship thanks to WNB Financial.
Victorian Winona: Through the Lens of Charles Tenney, August 14 - January 26
Charles Tenney (1847 - 1917) and his partners left a large collection of their photographs behind when they retired from their photography business in Winona in 1892. Many of these images are now the property of the Winona County Historical Society. These photographs include stereograms, which are double images used with a special viewer called a stereoscope to create a three-dimensional image and what are known cabinet prints, which are mounted on card stock. These images are from the 1870s and 1880s and give us all a detailed look around Winona and the region in Victorian times.
Opening Event: Wednesday, August 14; with a special Food For Thought program; Victorian VR: A History of Stereo Photography with Robert Taunt at 12:05 p.m.
The 7th annual Art of Fine Furniture exhibition is sure to delight again! Showcasing the historic talents of fine furniture making, the pieces in each annual exhibit are handcrafted by regional artists and craftsmen and are testaments to age old woodworking skills with artistry of design, and are sure to be future heirloom pieces admired for generations. Founded in 2013 The Art of Fine Furniture is an annual exhibit featuring the creations of professional and hobbyist studio furniture makers. Related educational and inspirational workshops and discussions encourage professionals and aspiring amateurs alike to think deeper about the works they create and to push themselves to create new extraordinary works. Also learn more at theartoffinefurniture.com! Free admission to the exhibition!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional sponsorship thanks to WNB Financial.
Victorian Winona: Through the Lens of Charles Tenney, August 14 - January 26
Charles Tenney (1847 - 1917) and his partners left a large collection of their photographs behind when they retired from their photography business in Winona in 1892. Many of these images are now the property of the Winona County Historical Society. These photographs include stereograms, which are double images used with a special viewer called a stereoscope to create a three-dimensional image and what are known cabinet prints, which are mounted on card stock. These images are from the 1870s and 1880s and give us all a detailed look around Winona and the region in Victorian times.
Opening Event: Wednesday, August 14; with a special Food For Thought program; Victorian VR: A History of Stereo Photography with Robert Taunt at 12:05 p.m.