Past Exhibits

Along with Area Geology, an exhibit showcased the Museum building, the former Gateway Ski Chalet.  The exhibit presented the history of the Gateway Ski Hill, how the chalet was saved after the ski hill closed down, the chalet’s incredible move to the Land O’ Lakes Town Park, and its renovation/conversion to become Land O’ …

Our second exhibit featured Barefoot Charlie, a unique local character and bar/restaurant owner.  The exhibit was thoroughly researched by Pat Juday, Paul McLeod, and Marilyn Annin (designer). The exhibit was launched in May 2002, and was featured during the 2003 season as well. …

This 3-year exhibit told about the lumber mill town of Donaldson which existed alongside State Line (Land O’ Lakes)  in the early 1900s. The first year featured the impressive two-room School which was the area’s District School through the year 1930.  Rare school records from inside the donated school safe were part of the display.  …

The WWI-Northwoods Connections exhibit was timed perfectly in 2018 with the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI (Nov. 11, 1918).   Spearheaded by summer resident Roberta Marling Morris, whose family were early Northwoods pioneers, Roberta generously loaned her father’s large collection of memorabilia from his war time in France.  Most notable was Robert Newcomb Marling’s tenor banjo that he carried with him throughout all of war-time France, …

This exhibit showcases the historic King’s Gateway Resort Complex built in Land O’ Lakes in the late 1930s.  In its hay-day, the King’s Gateway drew entertainers, guests and visitors from all over the U. S., including big names such as Bob Hope, Lawrence Welk, movie star Mitzi Gaynor, comedy team Abbot & …

The Guide’s Exhibit featured many of our past and present Northwoods fishing and hunting Guides.  Interviews with these Guides and/or their families by Dr. Barbara Wilkinson brought together a wonderful exhibit with the photos, stories and tales of the early days of guiding, and the men and women who were the Guides! …

Our “Following the Megis Shell” exhibit was an ambitious joint-venture between the Land O’ Lakes Historical Society and the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa people.  Barbara Nehring coordinated creation of this very popular exhibit.

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During the summer of 2004, we exhibited our investigation of the history of Land O’ Lakes area logging. The exhibit featured maps, images, oral histories, and analysis of the sawmills, the lumber camps, and the logging railroads. These railroads were active between the 1880s and the 1920s, and a complex network of rail lines brought area logs to mills in Land O’ Lakes, …

Our first exhibit on Vilas area geology took a look at our three billion year time-span from the ancient Archean bedrock to the relatively recent glacial landforms.  The large rock at the front of the Museum is said to be over two billion years old….a plutonic rock identified as quartz monzonite, …