HISTORY
of the
Washington County Museum

In 1937, the Washington County Historical Association bought the Ft. Calhoun State Bank building for use as a museum. The purchase was made largely with money left from funds donated by the public in 1919 for the celebration of the centennial of Fort Atkinson. A generous patron of the Association made up the deficit.

Payment for lands and buildings for museum use since that time has been made from funds acquired through legacies, memorials and gifts by friends of the Association. The one-tenth mill levy voted by the County in November, 1966, later revised to three-tenths of a cent per $100 valuation, has assured help in maintenance.

The Bank Gallery has been set up to show the footprint of the Ft. Calhoun State Bank and features artifacts from that business which operated from 1914 through 1934.  Additionally, displays showcase early pioneer artifacts, dolls and musical instruments and a special clock room.

The first addition to the museum was the South Gallery which was completed in 1968.  It houses pre-historic artifacts, Native American dress and hand work, a Lewis and Clark diorama and relics of Fort Atkinson.  Children especially enjoy the hands-on "dig-box" where they can unearth early fossil specimens.

The second addition to the museum occurred in the 1970s and houses an early pioneer kitchen as well as the Association's library and genealogical files.

The third addition was the North Gallery in 1990.  This gallery houses a variety of exhibits ranging from early telephone equipment to fine China to World War I toys.  The "Touch Table" allows children to experience the sights and sounds of earlier times.

The museum houses a collection of photographs and documents which may be accessed by the staff for research.

For preservation purposes, many of the artifacts are displayed for limited time periods thus minimizing the artifact's environmental damage and allowing the visitor to see some different items on each visit.  The public is invited to browse among the exhibits, read the legends explaining the displays and ask questions of the staff on this, their journey into the land of yesteryear.