Polk County Museum

Home

THE POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

POST OFFICE BOX 41- 120 MAIN STREET

BALSAM LAKE, WISCONSIN 54810

715-485-9269

[email protected]

INVITES YOU TO VISIT

THE POLK COUNTY MUSEUM

Preserving the past for future generations by collecting a unique and enduring collection of Polk County History shared with the public through programs, exhibits, and research.

MUSEUM SEASON- MEMORIAL WEEKEND - LABOR DAY WEEKEND

THURSDAY - MONDAY 12 NOON TO 4:30 PM

No fee for admission. Your good will offering supports programs and events.

STAY UP TO DATE ON THE 2019 MUSEUM SEASON

Open House at the Polk County Museum

Saturday April 27th, 11 - 1:30 PM

The Polk County Historical Society

Welcomes the public to visit us at our

JOIN HANDS EVENT

The event is open to the public
Enjoy lunch & refreshments and visit the GIFT SHOP
Preseason Preview of our exciting new Exhibits for the 2019 Season

Learn about the Society’s preservation goals

Inquire about becoming a Member or Volunteering at the Museum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

The Old Courthouse Museum, built in 1899, after the county seat was moved by popular vote from Osceola to Balsam Lake, is celebrating a milestone birthday, listed in The National Register of Historic Places, now 120 years young.

Visit a building dedicated to the people of Polk County.

2019 giveBIG St. Croix Valley Event

The Polk County Historical Society is once again participating in our Community day of giving

Tuesday April 30, 2019.

WHAT IS giveBIG St. Croix Valley?

giveBIG SCV is a 24-hour online event that encourages everyone to contribute to St. Croix Valley’s nonprofits through an online giving platform. giveBIG St. Croix Valley will take place on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Please share – let’s unite for a powerful day of giving on April 30th: giveBIG St. Croix Valley! Don’t like waiting? You don’t have to! You can schedule your donation today.

To learn more about giveBIG St. Croix Valley or to schedule your donation go to:

https://www.givebigscv.org/organization/Polk-County-Historical-Society

Rather send a check? You can mail your contribution to the Polk County Historical Society. Thank you.

MONDAY JUNE 1ST DAIRY MONTH JOIN THE SOCIETY FOR A FIELD TRIP TO SOLUM DAIRY CENTER IN DEER PARK FOR A TOUR OF THIER INNOVATIVE AUTOMATED DAIRY FARM. WATCH FOR FUTHER DETAILS.

COMING for the month of JULY 2019

On loan from the PALY Foundation, Scottsdale, Arizonia

Traveling Exhibit AMERICA'S WOLVES discover America’s wolves – the Red Wolf, the Gray Wolf, the Mexican Wolf and the Eastern Wolf. The exhibit features content that is educational and thought-provoking.

July 13, 1 PM Presenter from the Wildlife Science Center , Stacy, MN

A wildlife education specialist will visit the museum and present a program including a variety of hands-on props and activities that make this program a complete educational experience.

The mission of WSC is to serve as an educational resource for all ages; by: providing exposure to wild animals and the body of knowledge generated for their conservation;to advance understanding of wild animal biology through long-term, humane scientific studies on captive populations, thus contributing to technical training for wildlife agencies, educational institutions and conservation agencies.

2019 Pioneer School at the Lanesdale One Room Schoolhouse, Balsam Lake,

two sessions, August 6,7,8 and August 13,14,15.

To make this unique program successful, we are suggesting the children, ages 6-14 are interested in experiencing reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons as taught 100 years ago. Our goal is to provide children with an understanding of the history of education in an authentic one room school house and to have fun. There will be lots of old fashioned games, stories and music.

Students are asked to dress as children did in the 1900’s; for girls, long dresses and bonnets; for boys, bib- overalls, knickers, and suspenders, if available. Costume’s available at school.

SHARE IN OUR HISTORY

The Polk County Historical Society was established in 1937 by a group of Polk County residents to manage the preservation of the rich history of Polk County and the housing of artifacts. The Society is a nonprofit organization with a Board of Directors and Membership.

The Old Courthouse, built in 1899 is a beautiful Romanesque, three story building, located in the heart of beautiful Balsam Lake.

In 1975 the Polk County Courthouse was relocated and the County invited the Historical Society to relocate their one room museum to the Old Courthouse. The Courthouse is listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

Three floors of Museum, offering a myriad of exhibits fits almost any interest; it is a priority of the Society to not only display items of local history, but to educate visitors of the history of the area. (About tab, top of page, features the many displays).

History lays the groundwork for strong, resilient communities. No place really becomes a community until it is wrapped in human memory: family stories, tribal traditions, civic commemorations. No place is a community until it has awareness of its history, strengthened when we share stories and experiences.

Visit our museum store featuring; local artists, books, t-shirts, hats and other fun items.

2018 Museum Events;

Partnering with Unity Community Ed. for a Spooktacular Halloween, Author Lois Joy Hoffman, Annual Spring School Tours with Chief Dan Mosay, featured traveling exhibits; WI. Historical Society;Wisconsin's John Muir: An Exhibit Celebrating the Centennial of the National Park Service, guest speaker Dr. Dave Clausen and WI. Veterans Museum; WWI Beyond the Trenches: Stories from the Front, speaker Dr. Larry Smetak. Fun Fest Root Beer Float Fundraiser and the PCHS Annual Dinner at Indianhead Supper Club, guest speaker Author Sara Deluca. Welcoming the community to our Join Hands Event, and fourth year participation in giveBIG SCV community fundraiser.

All events are open to the public.

We acknowledge and thank our corporate and local sponsors

THE FRED C. and KATHERINE B. ANDERSEN FOUNDATION

The Hardenbergh Foundation

The Hugh J. Andersen Foundation