Kenosha Public Museum

Fused Glass Workshop: Sushi Dish
2026-06-25 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Thursday, June 25 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm | Instructor: Jayne Herring | $64 ($80 for non-members) | Register for Fused Glass Sushi Dishes
Create a one-of-a-kind piece for your table in this hands-on fused glass workshop focused on sushi dishes. Participants will design and assemble two glass dishes, perfect for serving sushi, appetizers, or small bites.
No prior glass experience is required. All materials and instruction are provided. Finished pieces will be kiln-fired, then ready for pickup at a later date.

SPARK! Riding for the Union
2026-06-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
SPARK! programs are designed for people in the early-to-mid stages of memory loss to visit with their family and care partners.
This monthly program engages participants in lively conversations, storytelling, object handling, and other multi-sensory activities that relate. Space is limited so reservations are appreciated. For more information or to register, please call 262-653-4432 or send an email to spark@kenosha.org
Friday, June 26
A new exhibit called Riding for the Union is open and summer is here. Let’s celebrate by touring the new gallery and with ice cream on the Civil War Museum terrace.

Artsy Afternoons - 4th of July Pinwheels
2026-06-27 12:00 - 14:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, June 27 | 12pm-2pm | Register for Artsy Afternoons June Session
Artsy Afternoons is a monthly hands-on art program designed to spark creativity and encourage artistic exploration. Participants will experiment with new techniques, try a variety of materials, and create original works inspired by art, artists, and museum themes.
Each session features a different project, giving returning participants something new to explore every time. All materials are provided, and no prior art experience is needed—just curiosity and creativity.

The 8th Illinois Cavalry: History and Anecdote
2026-07-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Wednesday, July 1 | 12pm-1pm
From 1861 to 1865, the 8th Illinois Cavalry—a Federal mounted regiment from Northern Illinois—transformed themselves into one of the finest fighting cavalry units in the Union Army.
The regiment’s most famous moment came on July 1, 1863, when troopers from Company E ot the 8th Illinois Cavalry stood watch three miles west of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Shortly before 6:00AM that day, two privates from the 8th noticed a large cloud of dust rising from the road in front of them. These two, Thomas Kelly and James Hale, reported their observations to Lieutenant Marcellus E. Jones at the regimental headquarters.
Lieutenant Jones rode west to the outpost. While taking cover behind a rail fence at 7:30AM, he heard one of the men call out, “Here they come!” Jones borrowed a carbine from Sergeant Levi Schaffer, rested it on a fence rail, and fired at a Confederate officer riding a white horse. The shot was at extreme range and missed the target, but Jones had fired the opening shot of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Don McArthur-Self’s program will be an overview of the history of the 8th Illinois Cavalry from its organization to its mustering out on July 17, 1865. His talk will also provide the audience with biographies of some of its more colorful members.
Don McArthur-Self recently retired from teaching high school history after 34 years, 27 of them at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. In addition to teaching high school, for the last 13 years he has reenacted and researched the 8th Illinois Cavalry; in 2018 he spent a week studying the Battle of Gettysburg at Gettysburg College with Dr. Allen Guelzo. In his spare time he enjoys visiting small town cemeteries and looking for letters and diaries of 8th Illinois officers and troopers. He lives in Naperville, Illinois.

Museums Closed 4th of July
2026-07-04 10:00 - 17:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
The Kenosha Public Museum, Civil War Museum, and Dinosaur Discovery Museum will be closed on Saturday, July 4th.

Summer Watercolor Techniques
2026-07-06 10:30 - 13:30 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Mondays, July 6 – August 10 | 10:30am – 1:30pm | Instructor: Barbara Farrell | $104 ($130 for non-members) | Register for Summer Watercolor
Designed for painters of all skill levels, come explore the magic of watercolor painting. Each of the five sessions will begin with a demonstration showcasing the technique of the day. Students are instructed on color mixing, application and removal, various papers and mediums in a relaxed environment devoted to the students’ personal styles. Subjects include landscapes and still life. Class supply list

Summer Camp : Space
2026-07-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, July 7 – Thursday, July 9 | 10am – 12pm | $60 ($75 non-members)
Blast off into an unforgettable adventure at Space Camp! Kids will journey through the stars as they explore constellations, planets, and distant galaxies through a variety of experiments and crafts. Get ready for an out-of-this-world experience!
Ages 5-6 | Register Here
Ages 7-10 | Register Here

Workshop: Air Dry Clay
2026-07-10 10:30 - 13:30 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, July 10 & 17 | 10:30am – 1:30pm | Instructor: Kathy Laybourn | $70 ($84 for non-members) | Register for Air Dry Clay
Learn the basics of sculpting and crafting with this versatile material. Throughout this two-day workshop, you’ll explore a variety of techniques to shape and mold your own unique creations. In the second session, bring your artwork to life by adding color and detail with painting, giving your clay pieces a whole new dimension.

Second Friday Lecture: Port Hudson: The Most Significant Battlefield Photographs of the Civil War 2.0
2026-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, July 10 | 12pm – 1pm | Presented by: Dr. Lawrence Hewitt
Between June 14 and July 9, 1863–the final 25 days of the 48-day siege of Port Hudson–the photographic firm of McPherson & Oliver moved about the battlefield memorializing soldiers in action–and in combat! In the process of making this visual record of opposing armies actively engaged, the photographers created one of the greatest visual records of the Civil War. Their images included one taken at midnight (the first ever taken in the dark), one converted into a composite print (created by combining portions of two negatives), the Confederate army at the surrender ceremony, and examples of time-lapse photography. Sadly, the duo seldom receives credit for these images. Other studios, including Matthew Brady’s, published the McPherson & Oliver’s images as their own work. As with the battlefield they immortalized, McPherson and Oliver deserve better.
Lawrence Lee Hewitt was a professor of history at Southeastern Louisiana University. He has authored Port Hudson, Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi and coedited four volumes of essays under the collective title of Confederate Generals in the Western Theater and three volumes of essays under the collective title of Confederate Generals in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.

Summer Camp: Art Around the World
2026-07-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, July 14 – Wednesday, July 16 | 10am – 12pm | $60 ($75 non-members)
Explore the world through creative expression with activities like crafting intricate sand mandalas, painting Aboriginal dot figures, experimenting with Japanese spilled ink prints, and decorating traditional Matryoshka nesting dolls. Each art form offers a fun and hands-on way to learn about different cultures while developing artistic skills.
Ages 5-6 | Register Here
Ages 7-10 | Register Here

The Power of Song in Democracy
2026-07-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, July 14 | 6:30pm – 7:30pm | Performed by: Chris Vallillo | Free, registration required | Register for Power of Song
Popular music has always been a powerful tool to shape opinion and share the news of the day and is built into the DNA of our democracy. “The Power of Song in Democracy” is a celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary that explores how music was used as a political and social tool throughout the history of our nation. From the Revolutionary War, through the modern day struggles for equality and justice, music has been a potent tool to share ideas, inspire the public and create solidarity. Artist Chris Vallillo performs a wide range of music from the span of our nation’s history. Combining well-known and obscure pieces, Vallillo shares the music, history, and the back stories that shaped the course of our nation.
Chris Vallillo is a singer/songwriter and roots musician who makes the people and places of “unmetropolitan” America come to life in song. Having spent the last 30 years in the rural Midwest, he has a natural affinity for American roots music. Performing on six-string and bottleneck slide guitars, Vallillo weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs and narratives into compelling and entertaining portraits of the Midwest. Diary Linen Magazine described the music as, “vivid, original story songs” while Folk Wax Magazine Editor, Arthur Wood said “Vallillo’s guitar playing flows like warm honey and is a true aural delight.”
Weather permitting, this concert will take place outside on the Civil War Museum Terrace.

Summer Acrylic Painting: Beginners and Beyond
2026-07-18 10:30 - 12:30 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturdays, July 18 – August 8 | 10:30am – 12:30pm | Instructor: Kathy Laybourn | $80 ($100 for non-members) | Register for Summer Acrylic

Be enchanted with texture and color in acrylic paint! Students will learn how to construct a painting by determining basic composition, blocking in the underlying dark, middle, and light values, and layering color. Students will work from an image of an impressionist painting. This class is perfect for those who are beginners or have previous experience and want to expand their skills in acrylics. Class supply list

Summer Camp: Oceans
2026-07-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, July 21 – Thursday, July 23 | 10am – 12pm | $60 ($75 non-members)
Dive into the wonders of our oceans! rivers, and lakes. Discover incredible sea creatures, from vibrant fish to majestic whales, while learning about their unique habitats.
Ages 5-6 | Register Here
Ages 7-10 | Register Here

Artsy Afternoons - Sand Art
2026-07-25 12:00 - 14:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, July 25 | 12pm-2pm | Register for Artsy Afternoons July Session
Artsy Afternoons is a monthly hands-on art program designed to spark creativity and encourage artistic exploration. Participants will experiment with new techniques, try a variety of materials, and create original works inspired by art, artists, and museum themes.
Each session features a different project, giving returning participants something new to explore every time. All materials are provided, and no prior art experience is needed—just curiosity and creativity.

Museum Book Club: Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne
2026-07-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
This family-friendly book club meeting will take place in the Civil War Museum Resource Center, followed by a craft!
It is a dark and snowy night when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to colonial times. General George Washington is about to lead his army in a sneak attack against their enemy. But now a terrible weather is making the great general question his plans. Can Jack and Annie keep history on track? The fate of the country rests in their hands!
Thursday, July 30 | 12pm – 1pm | Discussion led by: Emily Mentzel | Free, registration appreciated | Register Here

Workshop: Decoupage Painted Earrings
2026-07-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Thursday, July 30 | 6pm – 8pm | Instructor: Tiffany Knopow, MFA | $40 ($50 for non-members) | Register for Decoupage Earrings
Create a stylish accessory in this hands-on workshop focused on decoupage patterned earrings. Participants will design and craft their own lightweight earrings using decorative papers, learning how to layer patterns, seal designs, and assemble finished pieces.
No prior experience is necessary, and all materials are provided. Leave with a custom pair of earrings ready to wear or gift.

Summer Camp: American Art
2026-08-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 6 | 10am – 12pm | $60 ($75 non-members)
Learn about a few important Americans and the impact of their artwork on the world, and then try their techniques yourself in this three-day camp. From the chaos of Abstract Expressionism to the color theory of Alma Thomas, find new ways to see the world around you.
Ages 5-6 | Register Here
Ages 7-10 | Register Here

Civil War Museum Teacher Seminar
2026-08-07 09:00 - 15:30 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Friday, August 7 | 9:00am – 3:30pm | $50 | Register for the Seminar
Join the Kenosha Civil War Museum staff and guest speakers for an engaging and informative seminar that dives into creative and immersive ways to utilize history education resources from your community to your classroom. The price of the seminar includes coffee and kringle, a guided tour, four guest speaker sessions, catered lunch, and professional development credits (Illinois educators only). KUSD Educators: Apply for a scholarship to attend the seminar.

Living History at the Civil War Museum with The First Michigan Engineers
2026-08-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, August 8 | 10am – 4pm
At their outdoor encampment, the 1st Michigan Engineers will show museum visitors the regiment’s role as combat engineers while displaying and explaining the many tools and pieces of equipment that were used to accomplish their surveying and construction duties. The living history group will also display items used by the engineers in combat roles.
The present-day 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, Company E, has been in the Chicago area since 1987. Over the years, the regiment has participated in combat and engineering roles at reenactments throughout the Midwest and national events at 1st Bull Run, Shiloh, Perryville (KY), and Bentonville (NC). Some of the items constructed at events include hand drawn field maps, bridges, a 33-foot signal tower, and plank roads.

Workshop: Hand Punched and Stitched Journals
2026-08-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Saturday, August 8 | 1pm – 3pm | Instructor: Tiffany Knopow, MFA | $40 ($50 for non-members) | Register for Hand Punched Journals
Create a journal that’s as thoughtful as the ideas you’ll fill it with in this hands-on workshop focused on hand-punched and stitched books. Each journal will be adorned with delicate leaf accents, adding a natural, decorative touch that makes every piece unique.
No prior experience is necessary, our instructor will guide you through each step of the process. All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a finished journal ready for sketching, writing, or gifting.

Summer Camp: Safari
2026-08-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Tuesday, August 11 – Thursday, August 13 | 10am – 12pm | $60 ($75 non-members)
Embark on an animal expedition! Campers will journey around the world to discover fascinating animals and the habitats they call home.
Ages 5-6 | Register Here
Ages 7-10 | Register Here
