Kenosha Public Museum

Workshop: Watercolor Techniques
2025-01-27 10:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Mondays, January 27 – March 3 | 10:30am – 1:30pm | Instructor: Barbara Farrell | $104 ($130 for non-members) | Register Here
Designed for painters of all skill levels. Each of the six sessions will begin with a demonstration showcasing a technique of the day. Students are instructed on color mixing, application and removal, brush strokes, and instruction on the various papers and mediums in a relaxed environment devoted to the students’ personal styles. Subjects include landscapes and still life.

Museum Munchkins
2025-01-29 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-05 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-12 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-19 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-26 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-03-05 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-03-12 09:30 - 10:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Every Wednesday Morning through June 11 | 9:30am – 10:00am | Free
Join Mr. Nick for songs, stories, and activities designed to get you and your preschooler excited about natural science and the world around us. Every week we learn together about a new animal, so there’s ALWAYS something new to discover, for kids and adults alike!
No registration is required. Intended for ages 0-3.

Civil War Medical Weekend with the 17th Corps Field Hospital Group
2025-02-01 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-02-01 10:00 - 2025-02-02 16:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle.”
Saturday, February 1 | 10am – 4pm
Sunday, February 2 | 12pm – 4pm
Join the Civil War Museum and the 17th Corps Field Hospital for a weekend of interactive displays, presentations, and programs that explore the medical care provided to soldiers during the Civil War. Members of the 17th Corps Field Hospital, the largest Civil War Medical unit in the Midwest, will set up displays and materials highlighting Civil War-era surgery, nursing care, pharmaceuticals, and embalming in the Civil War Museum’s Freedom Hall.
Interactive presentations, materials, and displays will be available throughout the weekend.
Activities include:

Civil War surgical demonstrations both Saturday and Sunday.
View hundreds of original surgical instruments up close.
Hear about the different diseases that affected soldiers during the Civil War.
Learn how women nursed the wounded and sick.

The 17th Corps Field Hospital is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in Illinois that is dedicated to educating the public about Civil War Medicine. The group consists of educators, RNs, accountants, first responders, retired Police Officers, and college students that do medical displays and demonstrations in the Midwest.

African American Read-In: Honoring James Earl Jones
2025-02-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, February 1 | 1pm – 3pm | Free
This program celebrates African American culture through the voices of Black authors across a range of literary forms, including poems, essays, historic speeches, short stories, and children’s books. Community readers lend their voices to works that are sure to inspire, challenge, and reflect on the Black experience in the United States.
This year, we honor the life and legacy of James Earl Jones, a trailblazer for Black actors in the entertainment industry. Known for his iconic roles on both stage and screen, Jones first made history in 1965 as one of the first African American actors to secure a continuing role on a daytime drama. A rare EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), he achieved unparalleled success across multiple disciplines and is best known for his booming voice. Jones credited his mastery of poetry—particularly reading it aloud—as a key factor in overcoming the stutter he struggled with as a child.
2025 is the 36th year of the National African American Read In, an event sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English and its Black Caucus. Each year communities across the country are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This program is presented in partnership with the Kenosha Literacy Council, the Coalition for Dismantling Racism, the Kenosha Media Center, the American Association of University Women, and the Kenosha Public Library.

African American Surgeons and Caregivers Who Served During the Civil War
2025-02-02 13:30 - 14:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Sunday, February 2 | 1:30pm – 3pm | Presented by Dr. Trevor Steinbach
Dr. Trevor Steinbach, President of the Society of Civil War Surgeons, will present a program on the African American surgeons and caregivers who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His program will introduce the audience to the service of Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta, the first commissioned African-American Army Doctor of the Union Army. Also considered will be Dr. David O McCord and Dr. John Van Surly DeGrasse, two other medical officers commissioned by the United States during the war. Dr. Steinbach will also give information on nine other African-American Assistant contract surgeons who were temporarily appointed to the position of Surgeon by the United States government during the war.
This lecture is part of Civil War Medical Weekend programming.

Virtual Workshop: Hayes and Garfield: The War Years
2025-02-04 18:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, February 4 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | Presenters: Joshua Dubbert and C.W. Goodyear | $12 ($15 non-members) | Register Here
Join the Civil War Museum online for an in-depth discussion led by Joshua Dubbert and C.W. Goodyear about Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield and their lives during the Civil War Years.
Joshua Dubbert is the Historian at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums. His research focuses on Victorian America, particularly its culture, art, architecture, and the era’s presidents. He enjoys giving public programs and tours of the Hayes Home, and sharing the fascinating history of Hayes, his presidency, his family, and his era, with the public.

Workshop: Food Preservation
2025-02-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, February 8 | 12pm – 2pm | Instructor: Emily Martinsen | $16 ($20 for non-members) | Register Here
Food preservation has gone from an essential practice to a fun hobby. Join Civil War Museum Educator Emily Martinsen for a family-friendly, hands-on workshop about the history of food preservation. Try your hand at making butter and “quick pickles” and take home historic and modern recipes and even some samples for later.

Winter Wonderland Paint and Sip
2025-02-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Wednesday, February 12 | 6pm – 8pm | Instructor: Tiffany Knopow | $44 ($55 for non-members) | Register Here
Join us for a festive Paint and Sip workshop where you’ll create your own enchanting winter wonderland scene! Guided by a talented instructor, you’ll learn step-by-step techniques to bring snowy landscapes to life on canvas. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, sip on your favorite beverage, and let your creativity flow. No experience necessary—just come ready to have fun and take home a masterpiece! All supplies included in workshop price.

Fused Glass Workshop: Wall Pocket Vase
2025-02-13 18:00 - 20:30 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Thursday, February 13 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm | Instructor: Jayne Herring | $75 ($60 for non-members) | Register Here
Craft your own fused glass pocket wall vase in this creative workshop! Learn how to cut and layer glass to form a unique design that transforms into a beautiful and functional vase. Perfect for displaying flowers or decorative accents, this project blends art and utility. All materials and expert instruction are provided—no prior experience needed! All supplies included in workshop price.

Second Friday Lecture: “What Did Lincoln Know About Science, and Did It Matter?”
2025-02-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, February 14 | 12pm – 1pm | Presented by Dr. James M. Cornelius
James M. Cornelius, Ph.D., the curator of the Lincoln Presidential Library from 2007-2018, has been working on this topic for more than a decade and given two preliminary public talks on the subject. It begins from the well-known surprise that Abraham Lincoln was our only president who held a scientific patent, then takes up the mental world of his era concerning such largely uncovered topics (at least in Lincoln circles) as ‘race science,’ phrenology, genetic inheritance, astronomy, geography, weaponry, folk vs. “real” medicine, natural history and discovery, even linguistics. Some of these fields may have influenced his presidential or other political actions. Parts of the talk may be unpalatable to polite conversation about him, and that is why the topic needs addressing.
Cornelius, a native of Minneapolis, is married to Anne. They were classmates at Lawrence University in Appleton and have two grown daughters. He is the secretary for and editor of the Abraham Lincoln Association’s newsletter For the People (Springfield, Ill.), former editor (2018-2023) of the Journal of the ALA, and the author or editor of half-a-dozen books on Lincoln and his times.

Artsy Afternoons
2025-02-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Select Fridays | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Explore the amazing world of art through the eyes of artists and see how their artwork can inspire your own. Try new techniques and get your creativity flowing. All materials included.
Intended for ages 5-10. There is no cost to participate, but registration is strongly encouraged to ensure enough supplies for all participants. Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the duration of the program.
January 10: Bubble Prints | Register Here
February 14: Valentines | Register Here

Workshop: Woven Winter Snowflakes
2025-02-15 10:30 - 14:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, February 15 | 10:30am – 2:00pm | Instructor: Sandy Bulgrin | $44 ($55 for non-members) | Register Here
Weave your own keepsake snowflakes in this fiber art class. Students will use a jig to start out this fun winter project and create two snowflakes. Some color choices of dyed reed will be available to choose from. Snowflakes measure 5 inches and 4 inches. All supplies included in workshop price.

SPARK! Victorian Etiquette
2025-02-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, February 21 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm
SPARK! participants will learn proper Victorian manners while attending a Victorian-themed tea party.

Beyond Board Games: Historic Military Gaming
2025-02-22 10:00 - 2025-02-23 16:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, February 22 | 10am – 4pm
Sunday, February 23 | 12pm – 4pm
Historic Miniature Gaming and the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society are coming to The Civil War Museum!
On both Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, visit the museum and explore the fascinating hobby of building, painting and sculpting terrain for gaming with historic miniatures.
Anyone interested in getting an “A+” in history should get to know the hobby and the folks at the Historic Miniature Gaming Society!
At this event, you’ll see Civil War miniature battle games that are both easy to learn and vastly rewarding.
Take command and witness how this hobby of “chess on a grand scale” uses strategy and tactics to challenge the imagination.

Morning at the Museum
2025-02-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Sunday, February 23 | 10am – 12pm | $8 ($10 non-members) | Register Here
The Friends of the Museums invites families to an exclusive morning of fun at the Kenosha Public Museum! The museum will open early just for this special event, featuring hands-on activities, crafts, and more. While all activities take place at the Kenosha Public Museum, they highlight the unique exhibits and experiences of the Civil War Museum and the Dinosaur Discovery Museum as well. Bring the whole family to explore, create, and learn together during this one-of-a-kind program celebrating the diverse offerings of all three museums!
Activities Include:

Paint a mini canvas
“Mini” Munchkin Performances by Mr. Nick
Create an Old Abe eagle puppet
Dress up in Civil War clothes for a photo
Make salt dough fossils
Clean real fossils

During the event, when a family becomes a new Friends of the Museum Member (or rejoins), they’ll receive the special ‘Adopt a Mammoth’ incentive! Families will take home a small plush mammoth, complete with a ribbon and adoption certificate, as part of their new membership.

Civil War Museum Media Club: The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
2025-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, February 25 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm | Instructor: Doug Dammann | $8 ($10 for non-members) | Register Here
Master storyteller Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s shelling of Sumter – a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, inflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. Lincoln himself wrote that the trials of these five months were “so great that, could I have anticipated them, I would not have believed it possible to survive them.”

Fused Glass Workshop: Square Dish
2025-03-06 18:00 - 20:30 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Thursday, March 6 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm | Instructor: Jayne Herring | $56 ($70 for non-members) | Register Here
Create your own beautiful fused glass square dish in this hands-on workshop! Learn the basics of glass cutting, layering, and design as you craft a unique and functional piece of art. Choose from a variety of colors and patterns to make your dish truly one-of-a-kind. No experience necessary. All supplies included in workshop price.

Wisconsin Walks Into a Bar
2025-03-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, March 7 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm | $16 ($20 for non-members) | Instructor: Dr. Karl Brown | 21+ only | Register Here
Wisconsin and beer go way back. In this talk, we’ll focus on Wisconsin’s role in three key episodes in brewing history – the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Prohibition, and the rise of the craft brewing industry today – as we discuss what it means to “Drink Wisconsinbly”. Program includes one drink ticket to enjoy during the program.

Kohl's Wild Theater: Welcome to the Zoo!
2025-03-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, March 8 | 1pm – 2pm | Free
Presented at no cost by the Friends of the Museum
It’s a great day at the Zoo — for everyone except Skylar, that is. Shy and hesitant, Skylar is sent on a journey by the wise river turtle where they meet zoo ambassador animals like Humboldt penguins, zebras and river otters. Join Skylar as they discover animal adaptations and how we, as humans, can adapt and grow when faced with new challenges. Welcome to the Zoo reminds us that trying new things — even when it’s scary — can be the key to interacting with the world around us.
Intended for 3rd-5th grade audience

Exhibit Closing: G.I. Joe: America’s First Action Figure
2025-03-09 10:00 - 17:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Closes Sunday, March 9
For centuries, children have collected and played with toy soldiers. Early examples of soldiers made from stone, clay, or metal can be traced back to the time of ancient Egypt.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mass-produced toy soldiers made of lead, tin, cardboard, or molded plastic could be found on the market. These soldiers were favorites of children who set them up and moved them as army groups. But as fun as they were, there was a problem. None of these soldiers could actually move their arms or legs and be posed in different positions.
Then, in 1964 Hassenfeld Brothers (HASBRO) introduced the G.I. Joe action figure. G.I. Joe represented soldiers from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines and were a huge step up from anything else on the toy soldier market at that time. Their bodies featured 21(!) moving parts and joints. They could kneel, sit, lay down, stand, and bend their knees and elbows. Not only that, each figure came with basic fatigues, boots, cap, and dog tags while the packaging showed images of additional uniforms, accessories, and vehicles that could be added to make them even more realistic and fun. By 1966, sales of G.I. Joe accounted for 66% of HASBRO’s profits.
As successful as G.I. Joe was, he was also a reflection of culture and tastes. As the Vietnam War escalated in the late 1960s, sales of the action figure dipped as people turned away from things military in nature. In response, Joe took a training hiatus for a few years then returned in the 1970s ready for a life of action and adventure rather than a strictly military one.
From the beginning, G.I. Joe action figures allowed children to explore all kinds of heroic and daring adventures. Kids could create their own scenarios using their imagination rather than being told how to play as in scripted video games. This kind of creative and imaginative play has been important for every generation, and for the past sixty years the G.I. Joe action figure has been leading the charge.

Exhibit Closing: Trailblazing Women in STEM
2025-03-09 12:00 - 17:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Closes March 9, 2025
Touhey Gallery
Explore inspiring stories of trailblazing Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Perfect for educators, families, and visitors of all ages, this presentation of resources from the Smithsonian will take visitors beyond the museum to a wide world of achievement and exploration.

Exhibit Closing: Wisconsin Art from the Kenosha Public Museum Collection
2025-03-09 12:00 - 17:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Closes March 9
Ruble Gallery
Explore the vibrant spirit and history of Wisconsin through its art in Wisconsin Art from the Kenosha Public Museum’s Collection. This exhibition showcases a diverse array of works from regional artists, each capturing unique perspectives on Wisconsin’s landscapes, people, and culture. Featuring both modern and historic works, the exhibit offers a rich visual journey that highlights the state’s artistic heritage and evolving creative voices.

Second Friday Lecture: Wildfire, Miss Clampitt, and the Wonder Girl from the West: Early Women Sculptors of Abraham Lincoln
2025-03-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, March 14 | 12pm – 1pm | Presented by Mr. Dave Wiegers
In the middle of the 19th century, women were not generally a force in American sculpture. Art, and especially sculpture, were a male-centric occupation. Three women sculpted images of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s and 1870s, and each has an interesting story. Two of these women sculptors, Vinnie Ream (Hoxie) and Sarah Fisher Ames, would produce images of Lincoln that would be displayed in the United States Capitol building. A third, Edmonia Lewis, broke many barriers of race and gender to become a well-known sculptor. Each of these women has a unique story and, other than Ream, they have not had their stories widely told.
