Highlights Archives
Giving the Gift of History for the Holidays
Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for a history connoisseur or dilettante, the Wisconsin Historical Society has a variety of options to assist you with your holiday shopping. Avoid fighting mall traffic and find something unique for that special someone from the comfort of home — by shopping online at the Wisconsin Historical Museum store. Or, if you are shopping out and about, the museum's store at 30 North Carroll Street on Madison's Capitol Square is where you'll find the 2006 commemorative Capitol ornaments being released Tuesday, November 21.
You'll be able to display your Wisconsin heritage in our "Real Wisconsin" line of kitschy shirts. The bubbler tee celebrates our state's unique name for a drinking fountain. One can proudly display their allegiance to Wisconsin and its dairy heritage with our No thanks, I'm having butter tee commemorating the oleomargarine wars in Wisconsin. These shirts made a big splash at the World Dairy Expo.
 Silver Screens: A Pictorial History of Milwaukee's Movie Theaters would make an excellent holiday gift All of the fine publications from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press are also available, including Silver Screens: A Pictorial History of Milwaukee's Movie Theaters, Cream City Chronicles: Stories of Milwaukee's Past, and all-time favorites like Aztalan: Mysteries of an Ancient Indian Town and At the Creation: Myth, Reality and the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. You'll need a bag to carry all those books around, and what better way to do that than with a large canvas tote featuring a popular image from the Society's archives? Our Play 'Til the Cows Come Home bag features a quirky-but-fun image showing female Univesity of Wisconsin band members dressed to the hilt while serenading cows in a university dairy barn.
The historic sites offer special postseason hours and holiday shopping opportunities this season as well. The Old World Wisconsin museum store will be open from November 29 to December 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m on weekends. This year the store features a special selection of Finnish holiday glassware, toys and decorations, meaning you can find unique gifts for both traditional and modern tastes.
The Villa Louis museum store will be open the first two weekends in December — Saturday and Sunday, December 2-3 and 9-10. Hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. both Saturdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Sundays. There will be lamplight tours from 5:30-7:30 on both Saturday nights, and the store will offer a candy cane tree for kids, with drawings for a free Christmas cracker. Villa Louis also stocks Victorian-inspired Christmas gift ideas including historical books, fine china and children's toys. There are also a few bargains to be found in the name of end-of-year inventory reduction.
The H.H. Bennett Studio store will be open on weekends through December 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with mail-order shopping available year round. The store will also sell 2007 historic sites passports, a season-long pass, which can also be purchased online.
Rather stay indoors this holiday season? Remember, you can always buy gifts from the comfort of your own home by shopping online or by calling us toll free at 888-999-1669. All proceeds benefit the Wisconsin Historical Society. Don't forget, Wisconsin Historical Society members save 10 percent off their purchases, get free admission to the Wisconsin Historical Museum, half-price admission to Society's historic sites, and a complimentary subscription to the Wisconsin Magazine of History.
:: Posted November 17, 2006
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