“Collecting the Valley” virtual programs through Chippewa Valley Museum will delight and inspire

EAU CLAIRE, WIS. – A new set of programs through Chippewa Valley Museum will share stories from throughout the Chippewa Valley as told through artifacts in the museum’s collection. An eclectic mix of programs will feature items ranging from historic photos of Eau Claire businesses, to the many iterations of Barbie™ dolls, to rare and interesting Midwest pottery. Diana Peterson, Curator of Collections, presents the first program, “Collecting the Valley: Old Eau Claire,” Tuesday November 17th at 6:00p via Zoom.

“In my work as curator, I’ve been captivated by the vast number and interesting nature of items in the museum’s collection,” shares Peterson. “I have been drawn toward discovering and sharing the stories of items which, while they may not be included in upcoming exhibit plans, are certainly deserving of being publicly featured and enjoyed.”

The first set of the Collecting the Valley programs (3rd Tuesdays at 6p) are as follows:

• November 17th: Old Eau Claire - Explore eight vintage businesses through both historic photos and objects from the collections.
• December 15th: Evolution of Barbie™ - Barbie gets a lot of criticism but is it deserved? Learn the story of Barbie’s creation and observe changes over time through dolls and accessories held in the museum’s collections.
• January 19th: Midwest Pottery - Learn the history of seven Midwest pottery companies and view some of the collectible pieces they produced.

In Peterson’s words: “Chippewa Valley Museum collects artifacts that help tell the stories of the Chippewa Valley and its residents. Collecting the Valley programs are inspired by those objects and are meant to be informal and informative discussions about fun topics from local history.” Paid registration and an internet connection are required for participation in Collecting the Valley programs. Details are available at cvmuseum.com.

The Chippewa Valley Museum is open to visitors in Eau Claire’s scenic Carson Park. Visit cvmuseum.com or contact Angela Allred at 715-834-7871 or a.allred@cvmuseum.com for additional program information.