2024 Events
Speaker’s Series, 2024
Come learn more about Polk County’s History from folks who love Polk County as much as we do! If you’d like to be a featured presenter, please contact info@polkcountymuseum.org.
Speaker’s Series are normally once per month. Admission, unless otherwise noted, is free! Upcoming events will be posted below.
To register for one or more of the events, please click on the registration form link below.
Previous Events:
February 20, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Ed Johansen | Happy Danes, Sad Danes: Danish Immigration to Polk County
March 19, 2024 | 1:00 PM: AT Glenna Farms (1333 120th St., Amery) | Maple syrup production and taste-testing
April 30, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Olaf Danielson | History of Bridges & Ferry Crossings Along Wisconsin’s Western Border
May 21, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Laura Jensen | Getting Started with Local History & Genealogy Research
June 22, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Dave Skrupky | Flintknapping demonstration and bring-your-own stones for identification!
August 20, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Linda Iwaszko | Spinning & Knitting How-To and do-it-yourself!
September 17 | 1:00 PM: Lois Joy Hofmann | Cultural Experiences Traveling the World
October 22 | 1:00 PM: Brenna Weston | The What, Why, and How of Haunted Dolls (special Spooktober edition!)
November 5, 2024 | 1:00 PM: Linda Iwaszko | Spinning & Crocheting How-To and do-it-yourself!
Summer Pioneer School
Each summer the Polk County Historical Society hosts two sessions of a Pioneer School for students in our Lansdale School. Students participate in 1880’s academics, games, music and pioneer skills in this one-room school house.
To make this unique program successful, we only accept children ages 6-14 who 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 schoolhouse 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 early 1900’s; for girls, long dresses, and bonnets; for boys, bib-overalls, knickers, and suspenders, if available.
Lunches should be brought in baskets, pails, or handkerchiefs with drinks in lidded glass jars. Please no soda pop, chips, or packaged snacks. Clothing and lunch pails are available to borrow.
School will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM each day. Please check back next year to register your child for the 2025 Pioneer School.
The fee for each three-day session is $35.00 per child.
School Tours
Each year we conduct school tours of the museum for local students, led by Society members, with a special program by Chief Dan Mosay. Tours are perfect for fourth graders who are learning about state history, middle and high school civics courses, or general history courses!
These tours are free for students from area schools. If you are an educator and would like to schedule a tour, please contact info@polkcountymuseum.org.