The Lake County Museum Experience

The Lake County Museum is often quiet and serene, the kind of place where the air feels thick with stories waiting to be discovered. Sunlight filters through the windows, reflecting softly off glass cases, while every exhibit seems to whisper a piece of the past. In recent years, the team has breathed new energy into this peaceful space, rebranding from the Smith Zimmermann Museum and reshaping how people experience local history. It is not just about preserving artifacts anymore. It is about creating moments where the past feels real and alive.

Conveniently located right beside the campus, the museum is a perfect spot for students to explore, engage with exhibits, and enjoy a meaningful experience. Open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free for all students, it offers an easy and welcoming way to combine learning with leisure.

The museum manages to make history feel close. Walking through the exhibits, it is hard not to be drawn in by the stories behind each piece. One of the main attractions, Westward Expansion and Lake County, tells the story of the Boyd family and their 280-mile walk in 1879 to settle in Herman Township. Their wagon stands proudly at the center as a symbol of endurance and hope. There are also wartime artifacts, antique computers, and a full-sized 1870s claim shanty. The museum also exhibits a section on Eugene Vidal, born in Lake County in 1895, who was an Olympic athlete and aviation pioneer who worked alongside Amelia Earhart.

Education is at the heart of what makes the museum so engaging. Pioneers and Patchworks explores the culture and history of quilting through creative hands-on activities. History Mystery Boxes invite students to act as detectives as they piece together clues from old photos and artifacts to uncover the story of a historical figure. Dakotah! A Silent Film brings back a long-lost movie made in Madison in the 1920s through recreation using the museum’s own collection of slides, negatives, and scripts. These programs don’t just teach history. They make it something people can touch, laugh about, and take home with them.

This fall and winter are shaping up to be exciting for museum goers. History Happy Hours will be held on November 10 where Dr. John Nelson will present Lost Colony: The Swiss in Lake County sharing the story of the Badu’s settlement and the Swiss immigrants who shaped it. For Giving Tuesday on December 2, the museum will launch its Barbie Exhibit along with a special performance to celebrate the day. Later in the winter, on January 20, the museum is hosting Prohibition and the Pig a presentation on the history of blind pigs which were illegal Prohibition-era liquor distilleries as well as a look into bootlegging culture. Guests can also enjoy meals and beverages inspired by that time both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Behind every exhibit and event is a small but passionate team led by Executive Director Julie Breu and Programming Coordinator Christina Blessinger. Together with dedicated volunteers, they do more than just maintain the museum. They research, restore, work on archival projects, and reimagine the presentation. Their tireless work has turned it into a place that feels active, welcoming, and alive with curiosity.

The Lake County Museum is more than a collection of old things. It is a space that celebrates stories, creativity, and community. For anyone who enjoys discovering something new about where they live, the museum is a great place to start.