Page 10 - Annual Report FINAL

MUSEUM SETS STUDENT TOUR MARK

More than 30,000 Teachers called museum visits an
visit on school trips important part of their year.
“Visiting the museum and listen-
ing to a storyteller while observing
he Society’s effort to boost the artifacts brings Wisconsin histo-
education initiatives in the ry to life for the students,” said Wit-
T 2017 fiscal year was evident at tenberg Elementary School teacher
the Wisconsin Historical Museum. Jana Van Dreel. “It tells them that,
A total of 30,487 K-12 students, ‘Yes, this really did happen!’”
teachers and chaperones visited on “You can’t beat a first-hand experi-
guided tours — the busiest year ever ence of the place you are studying,”
for the museum on the Capitol Square said fourth-grade teacher Gail Nayes
in Madison. The 25 tour guides, of Jim Falls Elementary, located
including 16 volunteers, were con- north of Eau Claire. “It makes it so
stantly in demand, with 960 groups much more concrete.”
arriving from 60 of Wisconsin’s Overall, 71,362 people visited the Educator Nick Ostrem answers questions from Mosinee
72 counties and 219 cities. museum. students during a field trip to the Wisconsin Historical Museum.

Villa Louis celebrates the wedding dress

ummer wedding season took on extra The exhibit by Society Curator of Social
special meaning for visitors to Villa Louis, History Leslie Bellais showcased 12 dresses
S which drew 20,978 visitors in fiscal year dating from 1857-1907. Highlights included
2017. a gown worn by Virginia Dousman, daughter
The exhibit “And the Bride Wore: 50 Years of Villa namesake Louis. She was married in
of Wisconsin Wedding Fashion” ran from May 1904 at the home. Her dress featured silk
to September and proved a popular attraction lace passed down from her grandmother.

At right: Virginia Dousman on her at the Society’s historic site in Prairie du Chien, Also featured: Gowns worn in 1869 and
wedding day. Above: The silk lace which is the former 19th-century estate of the 1884 by high-society Milwaukee brides
of her dress, seen in the exhibit. millionaire Dousman family. whose weddings each drew 1,000 guests.

10 ANNUAL REPORT SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTS | HISTORIC SITES & MUSEUMS