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References

Berlo, Janet Catherine, ed. 1996. Plains Indian Drawings 1865-1935: Pages From A Visual History. The American Federation of Arts and The Drawing Center. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated.

Frank, Ross. 2005. Plains Indian Ledger Art. Electronic document, www.plainsledgerart.org.

Neihardt, John G. 1961. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.

Navajo Rug Collection

The Navajo rug collection is the largest museum-held collection of its type in the state of Wisconsin, comprising over 200 rugs representing all major types, ages, and styles. As early as the 1800s, the Navajo were recognized for their high quality of weaving by both neighboring American Indian groups and the Spanish. The changing designs of the rugs have been influenced by trade and later, tourism. Several examples of these rugs can be seen in the Southwest exhibit on the Second Floor.

Item Image
rug
Catalog Number
E10552
Accession Number
3101
74

Streets of Old Milwaukee

The Streets of Old Milwaukee was originally opened in January 1965.

This exhibit created one of the first walk-through dioramas in the world, transporting the visitor back to a fall evening in Milwaukee at the turn of the 20th century. It was an immediate hit and continues to be the most visited spot in the Museum. In honor of the Streets 50th anniversary, the exhibit was reimagined by further incorporating themed storytelling and a heightened sensory experience to give the visitor a different perspective on every visit.

Kinship

The Nature of the Tribe

In the Great Lakes, Native tribes were composed of a number of smaller villages or bands of semi-sedentary groups living together. Only rarely did these tribes assemble in large groups, except in summer, when several hundred people might live together, and during a time of major warfare. For religious events, especially the Medicine Dance, a large group might assemble. Lacrosse games could also attract large groups and tribes close to the Prairies might assemble for their spring buffalo hunt.

Telephone Answering Machine

The answering machine, a piece of technology people use all over the world, was invented here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first answering machine was created by Joseph Zimmerman, a Milwaukee native, who had the idea for the invention after he spoke with an air conditioning and heating specialist who told him he did not want to leave his office because he had no secretary to take his phone calls. It weighs nearly 80 pounds and consists of two boxes; one had a record tape play and the other had a wire tape, which worked together to record the messages. Zimmerman created the answering machine in his Milwaukee home, patenting his creation in 1949. The Museum currently has four different models of answering machines from the years 1949, 1965, 1968, and 1972.

Item Image
answering machine
Catalog Number
H52547
16

Frogs!

green frogExperience the vocal and visual beauty of frogs at this special exhibit!
Limited Engagement: October 6, 2018 - January 6, 2019

Frog Feedings: Stop by to watch the frogs get fed by a professional keeper and learn something new! Feedings occur daily at 11:00 a.m. for about 15 minutes.

Monday - Amazon Milk Frogs and/or Mexican Dumpy Frogs 
Tuesday -  African Bullfrog and/or Ornate Horned Frogs
Wednesday -  Giant Monkey Frogs and/or Amazon Milk Frogs 
Thursday -  Poison Dart Frogs
Friday  - Amazon Milk Frogs and/or Mexican Dumpy Frogs 
Saturday -  African Bullfrog and/or American Bullfrog
Sunday - Poison Dart Frogs