Highlights Archives
Madeline Island Museum Celebrates 50 Years
Back in the summer of 1958 Madeline Island resident Elmer Nelson raised the American flag at the grand opening of a new museum dedicated to preserving and telling the story of the island's long and colorful history. This year, on Sunday, June 22, that same islander, now in his 80s, will do the honors again as Madeline Island Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Many of the same celebratory trappings that characterized the original grand opening ceremony will be part of the 50th anniversary event. The program will include the flag raising, a blessing of the museum by island pastor Marina Lachecki and Leo Lafernier of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, a ribbon cutting featuring the island's youngest and oldest residents, and commentary on the occasion from Wisconsin Historical Society Director Ellsworth Brown, state Representative Gary Sherman and state Senator Bob Jauch. Steve Cotherman, who directs the museum's day-to-day operations, will present a synopsis of the museum's history and a vision for its future.
The museum's history is inextricably entwined with two longtime island summer residents, Leo and Bella Capser, who made preservation of the island's story their personal mission. Through their hard work and dedication, the museum became a reality in 1958. A decade later they donated the museum to the Society and established an endowment to provide for its operation. In 1991 a modern exhibition facility was constructed and named in their honor. The Capser Center today includes an exhibit celebrating the museum's 50 years of preserving and sharing Madeline Island history.
For more on the Capsers and photographs of Madeline Island's history, see our image gallery A Summer Place: Photographs from the Apostle Islands, at Wisconsin Historic Images.
:: Posted June 18, 2008
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