Exhibits

Temporary Exhibits

Tales and Legends: Oriental Ivory Sculptures from the Dr. and Mrs. Clifton Peterson Collection

Kenosha Public Museum
5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin

The collection includes beautiful carved ivory representing the rich history and culture of ancient Asia. Some of the myths and legends depicted in these statues date back as early as 2697 BC. This collection has been generously on loan to the Kenosha Public Museum from Dr. and Mrs. Peterson. On display in the West Gallery through 2008.

Living Planet and The Colors of the Rainbow

Kenosha Public Museum
5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin

An exhibition of new works by Lemon Street Gallery artists and the 2008 Membership Exhibition of the Kenosha Art Association. Join us for a combined artists reception on August 17, 2008 from 2pm to 4pm. Living Planet and The Colors of the Rainbow through September 14, 2008.

S.D. Schindler - Children's Book Illustrations

September 27 through January 18, 2009
Kenosha Public Museum
5500 First Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Former Kenoshan Steven Schindler shares his masterful illustrations from over 50 children's books. On display in the East Gallery. Join us for an artist's reception Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 2pm to 4pm.

Permanent Exhibits

Permanent Exhibit: The Wisconsin Story

The Wisconsin Story is an immersive experience placing the Museum collections in an exciting multi-disciplinary adventure. Visitors will experience the change in climate, the development of a variety of ecosystems, the evolution of plants and animals, and the life of Native Americans as it happened in our area over hundreds of thousands of years. This permanent exhibit area is designed to correspond to school curriculum needs.

Highlights of the first floor exhibits include coral reefs and primitive monsters of the deep, the Ice Age and the eventual melting of glaciers, the Schaefer mammoth dig, the Hebior mammoth replica, and the story of Native Americans of Wisconsin.

The Schaefer mammoth, excavated by the Museum, is significant because it documents the earliest interaction of mammoth and man east of the Mississippi River. The actual Schaefer mammoth bones are set in a special floor display exactly as found on the Schaefer farm in Paris, Wisconsin. Further research on the Schaefer mammoth bones tells us that this site is one of the oldest sites of human habitation in all of the Americas.

The Hebior mammoth was excavated in Kenosha County, Wisconsin and is the largest, most complete mammoth excavated in North America. A life-size replica of the Hebior mammoth was purchased by the Friends of the Museums for this exhibit.

Temporary Galleries

The East and West Galleries host changing exhibits representative of the broad mission of the Kenosha Public Museum. Visitors can see everything from baby dinosaurs to ivory carvings to animals from five continents. Stop in often and see what's new.

Decorative and Fine Arts Gallery

The Kenosha Public Museum has an exceptional fine and decorative arts collection. The Museum collection boasts works by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Salvidor Dali as well as regional artists who have achieved significant recognition such as Lorado Taft, Ruth Miles, William Bloom, and Lee Weiss. The decorative arts are well represented with Chinese ivory carvings, an ancient Chinese bronze goddess, Wisconsin salt glazed pottery, and glassware. A large sculpture is featured in the southwest windowed corner of the building,

Treasures Galleries

(First and Second Floors)

A rest and study area is centrally located on each floor. This is an area where smaller collections associated with the themes of the floor are displayed on a long-term, temporary basis. These changing areas feature collections installed in an "intensive study" fashion.