The Driftless Historium: A Journey Through Time in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, age 16

There is a museum in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin that’s well worth a visit. The Driftless Historium and Mount Horeb Area Historical Society are only a short drive from Madison, but inside the facility are objects and exhibits that teach history and spark the imagination.

It’s been a while since student reporters from Simpson Street have been to this fantastic museum. But we’ve seen the photos of prior visits and read the reviews from former students. So, we were excited to hit the road and visit Mount Horeb and the Driftless Historium. Of course, we also wanted more photos of trolls. But that’s a different part of the story.

It was a beautiful summer day when we pulled up in front of the museum. As soon as we walked in there was so much to see. Our eyes wandered to all the visual sights and cues. Luckily, we were greeted by the director, Destinee Udelhoven, who offered to show us around. Ms. Udelhoven guided us through the different exhibits and the history of Mount Horeb and the Driftless Area.

She first brought us into the community room and gallery. Here, we were very pleased to see original works by local high school artists. Ms. Udelhoven explained the concept, and the process for selecting the student artists.

She also showed us the museum’s permanent exhibit, called “Life and Change at the Edge of the Driftless.” This exhibit walks visitors through the glacial history of the region and Ms. Udelhoven did an excellent job complementing it by explaining the journey of the Indigenous Americans, miners, shopkeepers, immigrants, farmers, and innkeepers. The 2,000 square foot exhibit room holds hundreds of local artifacts and photos, accompanied by thorough explanatory texts, dioramas, and interactive graphics.

Then we walked through the gift shop – which included a special tribute to the famous trolls of Mount Horeb and an ice cream shop – to the special exhibit called “History in 3D.”

We put on our 3D glasses and looked at a collection of images of the greater Mount Horeb area. Most of these images were from the photographic collection of the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society, and some were loaned by other museums and historical societies, including the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum and Folk Art School and the Stoughton Historical Society. Most of these photos were taken between 1870 and 1890, by photographers Andreas Larsen Dahl and Samuel Nilson Rockstand.

As we walked around this exhibit, SSFP students got a sense of everyday life in rural southwestern Dane County. The images specifically highlighted the experiences of Norwegian immigrants transitioning to becoming Americans. Arlo Paust, exhibit designer and historian, formatted and converted all the photographs, and these 3D images showcase the development of 3D technology throughout the years.

We also had the opportunity to view a section of the museum that most visitors don't get to experience: the upstairs storage area. Ms. Udelhoven led us upstairs to this storage room, which contained many artifacts donated by residents in the local area. These artifacts ranged from old telephones to pop bottles, from diaries to retro washing machines. It was such a unique experience to walk through the aisles of artifacts and thus to walk through time.

Among the exhibits included in this wonderful museum was a virtual tour of the historic Norway Building, which was originally constructed in Norway then moved to The Chicago World Fair where it became famous. Later, we went back into the community room and gallery, located near the front of the museum. This space is often used to show the work of local artists. When we visited, the gallery featured art created by local youth. But whenever you visit, make sure to check out this room. It’s a beautiful space and full of local flavor.

Anyone interested in history, especially Midwest history, will enjoy the Driftless Historium. It is located in the beautiful small town of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. The assortment of real artifacts from people’s daily lives throughout history give this museum a uniquely relatable and homey atmosphere, while delving into the area’s rich and interesting history.

The Driftless Historium is an award-winning museum started by the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society, detailing the history of people from southwestern Dane County. This 3,000 square foot museum holds many different exhibits and has so much to see. We found the whole place fascinating and recommend a trip to Mount Horeb.

Oh, and by the way, while you’re there make sure to stop and see the trolls. These sculptures are all over town and just one more reason to plan a family trip to beautiful Mount Horeb.

[Source: Driftless Historium]