"On the Move" Exhibit Opens

What do many teenagers think about when they turn 16? Getting a driver's license. New drivers quickly learn there is more to driving than simply getting behind a steering wheel, however. A group of Chippewa Falls High School teenagers learned other lessons about transportation while doing research for On the Move a new panel exhibit for the Chippewa Valley Museum.

On the Move will open on Friday, March 11, 2016 and run through Sunday, September 4, 2016. It will be on display in the museum's lobby.

Students in the extracurricular American Club began research for this exhibit in spring 2015, taking time during their noon hour to meet monthly with CVM staff. After reviewing the many transportation-related photographs and objects in the museum's collection, they narrowed their focus down to three main topics: automobile transportation, winter travel, and horse transportation. The three teams of students completed their project in the fall of 2015.

"The students really enjoyed learning about their shared past," said the students' club advisor and Chippewa Falls High School Social Studies teacher Todd Kornack. "This project also helped them with their organizational skills, time management, and goal setting. Furthermore, the experience helped students to get involved outside the classroom, and to dig deeper into the real world applications of historical research. Overall, it was a great experience that our club was proud to be a part of."

The exhibit is the third installation in a three-part series of exhibits that sought to bring community members into the process of exhibit production. The first two exhibits, Art All Around and Picture of Health were object-based gallery exhibits. On the Move uses photos, images of objects, and text to relay the students' ideas. Picture of Health remains on display in the museum.

This project is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Wisconsin Humanities Council supports and creates programs that use history, culture, and discussion to strengthen community life for everyone in Wisconsin.

The Chippewa Valley Museum is located in Eau Claire's scenic Carson Park. During the school year, CVM is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 pm, with late hours Tuesday evenings until 8 pm, and early hours starting at 10 am on Saturdays. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-17. Museum members and children under 5 are free. Admission is always free Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 pm. Visit www.cvmuseum.com for more information.