Mukwonago Red Brick Museum

08/30/2026

Native American Techniques Demonstration (outdoors)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026 @ 1:00pm
Presented by Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke, long time veteran of many rendezvous re-enactments, will demonstrate various Native American techniques for hide tanning, string and cord making from natural fiber, turning tree bark into baskets and quills, bow making, and fire starting.

Mr. Clarke, a nonagenarian, will amaze our audience with his knowledge, agility, and dexterity. For many years he has amazed school groups, scout troops, and countless others employing the methods used by the Iroquois and other tribes. Don is standing (left) in front of a cabin he built.

LOCATION:
The demonstrations will be held outdoors in front of the Sewall Andrews Log Cabin Trading Post Museum & Gift Shop. Canopies will be set up in case of direct sun or rain.

Limited seating provided - BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIRS.

The following Walk-thru tours will be offered AFTER the demonstration:
🔘First floor of the 1842 Greek Revival house (est. 1970)
🔘Native American Gallery (renovated 2024)
🔘Log Cabin Trading Post (restored 2026)

ALL AGES WELCOME! Pick up 2026 Walworth & Waukesha County Passports and Letterbox clues while you're at the presentation.

Free Admission - Donations appreciated.
Free Parking in the lot behind the museum and along the street as marked.
Tents, tables, card table chairs (limited number) will be set up under the tents in front of the Log Cabin. Bring your own lawn chairs.

East Troy Area Historical Society East Troy Railroad Museum North Prairie Historical Society New Berlin, WI Historical Society Muskego Historical Society Eagle Historical Society Old World Wisconsin Pewaukee Area Historical Society Village of Mukwonago Burlington Historical Society Museum Delavan Historical Society Johnson Creek Historical Society Milton House Museum Lake Mills Aztalan Historical Society, Inc.

08/25/2026

Native American Techniques Demonstration (outdoors)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026 @ 1:00pm
Presented by Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke, long time veteran of many rendezvous re-enactments, will demonstrate various Native American techniques for hide tanning, string and cord making from natural fiber, turning tree bark into baskets and quills, bow making, and fire starting.

Mr. Clarke, a nonagenarian, will amaze our audience with his knowledge, agility, and dexterity. For many years he has amazed school groups, scout troops, and countless others employing the methods used by the Iroquois and other tribes. Don is standing (left) in front of a cabin he built.

LOCATION:
The demonstrations will be held outdoors in front of the Sewall Andrews Log Cabin Trading Post Museum & Gift Shop. Canopies will be set up in case of direct sun or rain. Limited seating provided - BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIRS.

The following Walk-thru tours will be offered AFTER the demonstration:
🔘First floor of the 1842 Greek Revival house (est. 1970)
🔘Native American Gallery (renovated 2024)
🔘Log Cabin Trading Post (restored 2026)

ALL AGES WELCOME! Pick up 2026 Walworth & Waukesha County Passports and Letterbox clues while you're at the presentation.

Free Admission - Donations appreciated.
Free Parking in the lot behind the museum and along the street as marked.
Tents, tables, card table chairs (limited number) will be set up under the tents in front of the Log Cabin. Bring your own lawn chairs.

East Troy Area Historical Society East Troy Railroad Museum North Prairie Historical Society New Berlin, WI Historical Society Muskego Historical Society Eagle Historical Society Old World Wisconsin Pewaukee Area Historical Society Village of Mukwonago Burlington Historical Society Museum Delavan Historical Society

08/25/2026

NEW OUTDOOR BROCHURE HOLDERS! We're OPEN even when we're not! Next time you wander by the museum, go to the front porch and grab some free info:

🔲 Brochures (Early Settlers, Native American Gallery, Museum)
🔲 Newsletter
🔲 Tour & presentation schedule
🔲 Passport program info (Waukesha & Walworth)
🔲 Letterbox clues
🔲 Free vintage post cards
🔲 Membership Applications

Then stop back again next time we're open and take a guided tour so you can see what you've been missing INSIDE all these years!

Shout out to volunteer JIM C. who designed, built and donated the custom brochure holder which required NO HOLES be drilled. This will be available outside April-November.

08/25/2026

Tickets for this event will be available for sale after the Native American Skills demonstration this Sunday (08/30/2026 @ 1:00pm). Tickets will be available for sale online at a later date as well.

SONGS OF THE EARTH: A Native American Flute Journey
Presenter: Janice Biniok
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 1:00pm

Have you heard the ethereal sounds of Janice's flutes in the Native American Gallery? Do you wonder about the history of these flutes? Or even how Janice first heard about them and why she learned to play? Janice will share her knowledge and passion for her flutes while including some additional instruments as she shares her journey and her music with you. After a short intermission, enjoy viewing the collections in the Native American Gallery while Janice honors them during Native American Heritage Month through her music. Seating available in the lobby and Native American Gallery.

Tickets limited to 25 and are available for sale at the museum during open hours most Sundays starting at 1:00pm. $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

Janice's Website: https://eleventhheavensounds.com/

Janice's page: https://www.facebook.com/jbiniok

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

⚡ Project Spotlight – Mukwonago Red Brick Museum - The Trading Post⚡

We were honored to complete the electrical work for the beautiful Trading Post!

Our work included:
✔️ Installing new track lighting
✔️ Installing switches
✔️ Adding exterior receptacles
✔️ Installing conduit for new outlets
✔️ Completing additional electrical improvements throughout the building

Projects like this require balancing modern electrical functionality while preserving the character of a historic structure. We are proud to have been a piece of the puzzle to bring this building to life for the community.

Thank you to everyone involved for trusting Elect-Tech, Inc. with this project!

Learn More about the Trading Post & its history here!: https://mukwonagohistoricalsociety.org/

As Always, We Are; The Ones to Trust When Power's a Must! ⚡💚

08/22/2026

08/22/2026

BEST DEAL IN TOWN! Free presentations on topics like historical people, places and events in Mukwonago or interesting bygone objects, customs, movements, skills. Where else can you get so much information on your community?

We had about 15 guests attend the Dr. Henry A. Youmans presentation on Sunday, August 16, 2026. We were honored to have one of Dr. Youmans' descendants from the Waukesha area in attendance.

Dr. Youmans was the first and very longtime doctor in Mukwonago. He once stayed with a patient all day. Charge? $5.00. He would get woken up in the middle of the night and have to go care for a sick patient, grabbing his kit filled with homemade remedies. We have his book full of medicine recipes he used! Stop in to see the display case and tabletop display featuring Dr. Youmans' photos, medical instruments, ledgers and documentation - a treasure trove of early Mukwonago history!

Side Note: Did you notice in the 1900's ink drawing of Mukwonago businesses around 1900 that in the upper left corner in the "Citizens Bank of Mukwonago" box appears the name "L.E. Youmans" as President? That is Laurel - Henry and Lucy's son! Do you remember the large house that was torn down to build condos or apartments across from Walgreens? That was Laurel's house where many early Mukwonago residents and visitors were served tea and entertained.

Check out the newspaper article from June 12, 1915 clipped by Lucy (Dr. Youman's wife) and added to Lucy's scrapbook by her son Laurel in March 1922. It talks about a Flag Day (aka Decoration Day) D.A.R. celebration at their house.