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Sign Up Now to be a Volunteer Guide at the Museum Next Season!
One of the perks of being a volunteer at the museum is turning on the Raspberry Island light and watching visitors’ faces as the Fresnel lens slowly begins to rotate, casting its beams around the room.
2026 was the first year the Friends provided volunteer guides for the Museum, answering visitors’ questions and providing information about the objects on display. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Pat Spaulding, at pat@spauldingconsultants.com. Training will be provided, and you’ll have the fun of learning more about the museum, meeting interesting people and turning on the Fresnel lens.
Photos & Video from the Capser Tribute event at Flicker House
Click to view pictures and video from the event at Flicker House…
Photos & Video from the 4th Annual Capser Tribute
Click to view photos and video from the 4th Annual Capser Tribute, A Fireside Chat with Louise Erdrich and Paul DeMain.
Connie Ross, Madeline Island Library, The Boomer Years
At this Friends History Popup on August 6th, Connie shared much library history and a lot of fun and perhaps little-known stories… Click to view the video of her talk...
Behind the Scenes: An Insider’s Tour of the Madeline Island Museum
Pictures from the second Behind the Scenes ( the first was last year).
Beth Dooley: The Summer Kitchen, Growing Food & Community on Madeline Island
A fun event as Beth shared from her upcoming book, which includes stories about the Madeline Island community and special individuals from our past! Video of Beth’s presentation included…
Videos: 2025 Annual Meeting
What’s going on in the Museum yard? You may have stopped by to see the canoe projects underway this summer. There are two: the building of a new birchbark canoe using traditional Anishinaabe techniques and the restoring of a 16-foot-long 1905 birchbark canoe. View the videos for the annual meeting reports, and to hear the full story of why and how the canoes are under construction.
Video — History Popup: The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach
The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach: Unraveling a Puzzle
Presented by Barbara Coffin & Dan Engstrom.
View the video of the popup presentation and discussion.
Video: Discussion of History of Tennis on Madeline Island
Kip Dooley and Friends members, including Sara Greenman Sheehan, gather at the South Shore Tennis Courts to reminisce about tennis on Madeline Island through the years. Click to enjoy the video of the discussion…
Behind the Scenes Tour of the Museum
Attendees had a great time getting a look at the archives and working areas of the museum, and hearing about visions of possible upgrades to the building and site. Click to view pictures of the tour and hidden spaces…
Patty Loew Oral History Talk at Flicker House
Click to see a video of the Paul DeMain introduction and the audience, Patty telling the Sky Woman and the Animals Creation Story, and other pictures of the event.
Video and Pictures from Patty Loew Capser Tribute Talk
Click to view a Zoom video of the presentation, plus extra videos and pictures!
The Magnificent & Mundane of Being MI Town Chair & Foreman Videos
Click to view videos of the presentation by Keith Sowl, plus the Q & A followup.
2024 Annual Meeting
The 2024 Annual Meeting was held August 24th on the grounds of the Madeline Island Historical Preservation Association. Museum director Mike Wiggins Jr. was the guest speaker. Click to read the minutes...
Members History Popup: Bella, Malcolm Lein and the 1990–91 Museum Addition
This popup held in Malcom Lein’s island home (now Eric & Laurel Lein’s home), featured stories by the architect Thomas Blanck, remembering Bella Capser and explaining how the addition was designed and built. A highlight was a look at Blanck’s original drawings! We also got a look at the booklet commemorating the preview opening of the Capser Center. And a tour of the Lein home, a 1930’s fabricated home consisting of sections, multiples of 3 feet, that are held together with bolts and wing nuts! Click to view the booklet and video of the presentation...
Members History Popup: Stories of Bella and Leo Capser and the Early Museum
This was an extremely interesting and entertaining event. Jean Teisberg, who was site director of the museum in the early days, had wonderful stories to share about the Capsers and the early museum! And we got to tour the original Capser cabin where the event was held! Click to view video of the stories...
Click for posts with a tag:
- Behind the Scenes at the Museum
- Beth Dooley
- Carol Sowl & the La Pointe School
- Connie Ross & the MI Library
- Hugh Madson
- Keith Sowl Town Chair & Foreman
- Keldi Merton
- Kevin Finney & 1905 canoe & 2025 birchbark canoe
- Marvin DeFoe & 1854 Treaty Wiigwas Jiman
- Marvin DeFoe and 2025 birchbark canoe
- Sid Levitsky
- Tennis on the Island
- The 1990-91 Museum Addition
- The Capsers
- The Dugout Canoe of Hidden Beach
- Tom Vennum