Hoard Historical Museum

10/21/2023

The 50th annual Black Hawk Artists show will open at the Hoard Historical Museum on Sunday, November 5 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The show runs through Thursday, November 16 during museum hours.

10/19/2023

Last chance to view the Smithsonian exhibit, "Habitat" at the Hoard Historical Museum. We'll begin removing the exhibit after Friday, October 27. If you haven't stopped by to view the exhibit, this is your last chance!

10/19/2023

We were so honored to host Alice in Dairyland recently at the museum. Alice, or Ashley Hagenow as she is usually called, stopped by the Hoard Historical Museum recently. Ashley and Assistant Director Dana were "joined" by our favorite Wisconsin governor W.D. Hoard for a photo. Thanks Ashley for coming!

10/14/2023

Join us for our exciting programming series today! Inside the museum will be Civil War reenactors sharing information on what life was like for Civil War soldiers and families.

AND join us for our lecture series exploring various immigration stories. At 10 am Merrilee Lee, director will share the story of German immigration to the US. At 11:30 am, Dr. Luz Ede-Hernandez will explore recent stories of immigration from Guatemala and Nicugerai. At 1 pm, Dr. Marcus Cederstrom will present, "Swedish Pancakes for Breakfast?" and explore Nordic food traditions in the US. And at 2pm, Susan Mikos will share the story of Polish immigration to the US. All programs are free and open to the public!

10/13/2023

Do you celebrate your favorite Governor's birthday? We do! And with cake! (But no candles; they make too much smoke!)

Tomorrow, Saturday, 10/14, we'll celebrate Gov. Hoard's 187th birthday by exploring different parts of his life.

A quick schedule of events:
10am-4pm Civil War reenactors onsite
10 am: Merrilee Lee, museum director, speaks on German immigration and Hoard's politics
11:30 am Dr. Luz Ede-Hernandez speaks on immigration from Central America
1pm Dr. Marcus Cedarstrom speaks on Nordic immigration
2pm Susan Mikos speaks on Polish immigration
And cake!

For more information Gov. Hoard Day

Hope to see you there!

10/13/2023

We're looking forward to the best 187th birthday party for our favorite governor on Saturday! We'll even have cake to celebrate!

A quick schedule of events:
10am-4pm Civil War reenactors onsite
10 am: Merrilee Lee, museum director, speaks on German immigration and Hoard's politics
11:30 am Dr. Luz Ede-Hernandez speaks on immigration from Central America
1pm Dr. Marcus Cedarstrom speaks on Nordic immigration
2pm Susan Mikos speaks on Polish immigration

For more information: Gov. Hoard Day
All events are free.

FORT ATKINSON — The Hoard Historical Museum will host its annual “Gov. Hoard Day.” on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

10/12/2023

While the weather forecast for Saturday doesn't look promising for our outdoor activities, it looks perfect for an indoor lecture series! Hope you can join us!

10/10/2023

We are very excited about our lecture series for this Saturday's Gov. Hoard Day! Joining us will be Dr. Luz Ede-Hernandez from UW Whitewater, Dr. Marcus Cederstrom from UW Madison, and Susan Mikos. We'll have lectures on German, Central American, Nordic, and Polish history and heritages. All programs are free and open to the public. Hope you can join us!

A great history museum with something for all! Learn about Native American Mounds, the Civil War and local history.

10/09/2023

Join us on Saturday, October 14 to celebrate Gov. Hoard's 187th birthday!

09/28/2023

Please help us by filling out our survey regarding how we should use our new property at 423 Whitewater Ave (next door to the museum). The survey is on our website at www.hoardmuseum.org

Looking forward to seeing your responses! Thank you for your great ideas!

For more information about the property's purchase, please see:
https://shorturl.at/hjKW6 Daily Jefferson County Union article
https://shorturl.at/kmsLQ Fort Atkinson Online article

09/26/2023

Aww, shucks, thanks Rachel! While we really appreciate your awesome comment, we think there are lots of great museums in the world. And if you haven't been to a museum recently, you should totally go to one soon!

TBH, we feel pretty good saying we're the best museum in Fort Atkinson!

P.S. We're the only museum in Fort Atkinson :)

09/15/2023

We're sorry for the short notice but the Museum will be closing today at 3:30 pm. We'll reopen tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am. Thanks for your understanding!

09/15/2023

We're technically a history museum but sometimes we get to be a bit more. On Sunday, we joined the Dwight Foster Public Library (Fort Atkinson)'s Food Truck Festival AND hosted several speakers at the museum for a program on Lorine Niedecker. But, to be honest, the highlight for staff was meeting Bluey*!!

(*Hint: Bluey is a character from an Australian cartoon named after her. She's a Blue Heeler puppy and lives with her parents and little sister Bingo. Kiddos and parents/caregivers love the cartoon's messages)

09/10/2023

Good morning! Come visit us at the 2023 Food Truck Festival at the Dwight Foster Public Library (Fort Atkinson) !! We're right next to Bluey so we're easy to find!!!

09/02/2023

This summer we were lucky enough to have both Maddy and Maggie T. work at the museum! Maddy, on the right, is our collections manager and has worked at the museum for over a year. Maggie, her sister and on the left, is a teacher and was hired as an educational programming consultant to help museum staff create new activities and programs for our school-aged visitors. We're looking forward to incorporating them into our school tours!

Maggie and Maddy, you both are such fun and we're all glad that we got to spend time with you both this summer!

09/02/2023

Come visit director Merrilee at the 1841 Foster House Open for Tours and enjoy a sample if raspberry shrub, a popular 19th century drink that can be used for cocktails. But today, it will just be used for MOCKtails :)
Open till noon!

08/31/2023

Looking for a different type of labor this weekend? Enjoy a challenge and a 360 degree view? Then we've got the perfect activity for you!

On Saturday, September 2nd, the Historic 1901 Water Tower will be open for tours. Visitors can climb to the top of the tower, weather permitting, and enjoy panoramic views of Fort Atkinson. Climbers must be 8 years old and 48 inches tall to climb to the top. There is no charge to climb but donations are appreciated.

View of the interior of the tower looking up at the base of the water tank.

08/30/2023

This Saturday, September 2nd from 10 am -2 pm, learn how to make raspberry shrub, a common 19th century drink at the Foster House!! Free samples will be available to try!
Shrub is made from fruit, sugar, and vinegar that are allowed to steep together. This afternoon, museum staff made Saturday's shrub to give it time to mix. So far, it's going shrub-tastically!!!

Hope you can join us on Saturday for a taste of the past!

08/29/2023

Time is running out to complete your History Highway 26 passport!!! Visit all 4 museums: Rock County Historical Society and Lincoln-Tallman House, Milton House Museum, Octagon House Museum, and Hoard Historical Museum to complete your passport and to be entered for a chance to win one of 4 gift baskets.

08/24/2023

Looking for an indoor activity to enjoy? We suggest you visit us and enjoy Jan Gilkey's one-woman art show. The 80-piece art show has pieces from all parts of Jan's career: childhood horse drawings to today. The art show is open until August 31st during Hoard Historical Museum's hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30-4:30.

There is also art available for sale; contact museum staff for more information.

08/23/2023

During this heat wave, please don't forget that we're the....

08/22/2023

Please feel free to stop by and enjoy our AC! Stay safe Fort Atkinson!!

08/19/2023

Saturday at 2pm!! Hope you can join us!

"Wing" your way to the Hoard Historical Museum on Saturday, August 19 at 2pm to learn more about monarch butterflies from Karen "The Butterfly Lady" Albrecht and participate in a butterfly release too!

08/17/2023

We're looking forward to Saturday and this program! We hope you can join us!

"Wing" your way to the Hoard Historical Museum on Saturday, August 19 at 2pm to learn more about monarch butterflies from Karen "The Butterfly Lady" Albrecht and participate in a butterfly release too!

08/16/2023

We're STILL OPEN, even if it doesn't look like it right now! If you're headed to the museum today, we recommend using either Merchant's Avenue or S. 4th Street E. to access our front parking lot.

The road work just makes it more of a challenge to get here, which makes it all the more rewarding when you do!

08/15/2023

It's not every day that you can take a selfie in the archives! :) We're honored to be a part of the City of Fort Atkinson, WI-Government!

Today is National day and our Hoard Historical Museum Director Merrilee Lee is getting in on the fun with this ! Check out the museum as the last few days of summer fly by!! League of Wisconsin Municipalities

You can join in the fun by snapping your selfie today in front of the Municipal Building, your favorite City Park, or another City facility.
League of Wisconsin Municipalities Engaging Local Government Leaders

08/12/2023

"Wing" your way to the Hoard Historical Museum on Saturday, August 19 at 2pm to learn more about monarch butterflies from Karen "The Butterfly Lady" Albrecht and participate in a butterfly release too!

08/11/2023

Did you know we have a book club here at the Hoard Historical Museum? The "Hoard Historical Literary Circle" meets every other month on the 2nd Wednesday at 10 am and we would love for you to join us!
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 11 at 10 am here at the Hoard Historical Museum when we'll be discussing "Odd Wisconsin" by Ericka Janik. If you need a copy of the book, they'll be available through the library after September 1st or they're available for purchase here at the museum from our gift shop. Be certain to mention it's for book club to receive your 20% discount on the book.

08/11/2023

Thank you to our neighbors for helping clean up from the storm!

The City of Whitewater and the Jefferson County WI Parks have offered their talents to assist the City of Fort Atkinson with storm damage cleanup. They are both here in the City today with equipment and employees.

Whitewater sent two employees with a chip truck and will be working on the south side of town chipping brush piles all day today. Jefferson County sent a skid steer with a brush/log grapple and two operators. They will be working on the north side of the City with our crews to load and haul brush to our compost site.

The City is grateful for both Jefferson County Parks and the City of Whitewater's help with this effort.

08/04/2023

Wondering what to do this Saturday? Visit the 1901 Historic Water Tower and the 1841 Foster House! Both are open from 10 am-noon and free to visit!
To climb the water tower, visitors must be 8 years old and 48 inches tall. The Foster House will be featuring historic school lessons so visitors may need to be prepared to learn something. 😉
For more information, please contact the Hoard Museum at 920-397-9914 or [email protected]

08/03/2023

Our favorite historic images are of the Main Street Bridge! Fort Atkinson has had several Main Street bridges with the firstbridge built in the 1840s. The Main Street bridge construction changed as bridge-building technology developed. Built first in wood, the bridge was later built using iron and stone in the late 19th century and concrete in the 20th. Which is your favorite bridge?

08/01/2023

More images from our archives! These images are all of the 100 block of S Main Street and show the eastern side of that block.

07/31/2023

The downtown Main Street work has made us think our historic images of Main Street that we have in our archives. This image, from the 1870s, is of South Main Street looking north. None of those buildings in the image are still standing but the Main Street bridge is in the same location.

07/29/2023

Change of plans! The Museum will be open today at 10 am since we have power!

And even though we're a museum, please remember that we also have:
~hot water in restrooms with working lights
~wall outlets to charge your devices
~chairs to sit and relax
~ AC to escape the humidity

Please feel free to come and just use our building and facility, we won't make you learn any history facts, we promise.

Although if you want to learn some history facts, we have some pretty awesome ones....

07/29/2023

Due to our power being out, the museum will be closed till further notice. Thanks for understanding!

07/29/2023

Due to storm cleanup, the Hoard Historical Museum's walking tours scheduled for this morning will be rescheduled for a later date. Stay safe everyone!

07/27/2023

Know what's cool? Our barn image exhibit!

On display in our Jones Gallery, the exhibit features images of Jefferson County barns and farmsteads. The exhibit, like the museum, is free to visit!

07/13/2023

Thank you Milton House Museum summer staff for visiting!! We had a blast visiting with you while you were here!

We had a staff fieldtrip to the Milton House and we're glad you could come and visit us too!!

07/06/2023

We are very excited to have Mariette Nowak join us on Saturday, July 8 at 10am to share information and advice on making our landscaping more bird-friendly! Program is free and open to all!

A great history museum with something for all! Learn about Native American Mounds, the Civil War and local history.

12/20/2022

Happy Holidays from all of us here at the museum! We'll be closed from 12/22-12/26 but will be open on Tuesday, 12/27 through Thursday, 12/29 from 9:30 am-4:30 pm. And as always, we're free to visit; no admission charged!

Felices fiestas de parte de todos los que trabajamos en el museo. Estaremos cerrados del 22 al 26 de diciembre, pero abriremos del martes 27 al jueves 29 de diciembre de 9.30 a 16.30 horas. Y como siempre, la visita es gratuita, ¡no se cobra entrada!