Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day
Saturday, May 25, 2024
The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum (WCHM) in Spooner is once again making plans to celebrate Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day in 2024 on Saturday May 25 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This free event marks the opening of the fourteenth season for the museum, and will include open house in the museum exhibit hall, ongoing activities in the canoe workshop, live music and food and beverage outdoors in the beer garden, a silent auction and canoe raffle, and of course the Canoe & Wooden Boat Show.
Canoe & Wooden Boat Show

​The Canoe & Wooden Boat will be the highlight of the day. Over twenty exhibitors are expected to display wooden boats of all shapes, sizes, and designs --both classic and modern-- as well as all kinds of classic and vintage water and paddling related items.

Last year we were happy to feature Tom Matthiae of Hayward who brought a 14 foot wooden lapstrake canoe that he built.  Stewart River Boatworks from Knife River, Minnesota, was there with two solo canoes, a Solitude and Firefly, and two tandem canoes, an Ami and Mon Amie, for sale. Mike Knuth of Duluth showed his 1930s Thompson Brothers Indian model canoe which he restored in 2015. Many Waters Boatworks from Minneapolis  showed a canoe custom made for YMCA Camp Menogyn. Megan Johnson from Pine City, Minnesota, had her handmade Megusta Paddles on sale.
 
There is always room for more, booth space is free, and reserving a space is easy. Write to info@wisconsincanoeeritagemuseum.org or call 715-635-2479.
Food & Music In The Beer Garden

While the Canoe & Wooden Boat Show goes on through the day, the outdoor beer garden will once again feature food, beverage, and live music on the “back porch” stage. In 2024 we’ll enjoy the music and shenanigans of Blu Kanu, returning for their second year, along with burgers, brats, and beverages from Bent Paddle Brewery in Duluth.
 
Blu Kanu performs crowd favorites from the 70s through present times. These two sibling troubadours engage the audience and create an atmosphere where folks want to join in singing or play one of the many percussive instruments the duo shares. With a lot of positive energy when performing, they make the most of their "sibling DNA harmonies."
Silent Auction

The 2024 Canoe & Wooden Boat Show on May 25 at the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum will once again include an auction of various items that have been recently donated to the museum. A relatively new feature of the boat show, the silent auction gives attendees the opportunity to take home some unique bargains on items, and at the same time support museum fundraising efforts.

Here is a list of items we had in our auction last year. We expect the 2024 auction to be bigger and better than ever.
  1. Karbon Two-Piece Canoe Form. Donated by Jerry Karbon of Middleton WI.
  2. Restoration Project: Square Stern Sailing Canoe. Donated by Karen Meyer of Waunakee WI.
  3. Sailing Rig for Square Stern Sailing Canoe. Donated by Karen Meyer of Waunakee WI.
  4. One of a pair of antique Shaw & Tenney paddles. Donated by Dennis Beltmann of Amery WI.
  5. One of a pair of antique Shaw & Tenney paddles. Donated by Dennis Beltmann of Amery WI.
  6. Wooden Canoe Motor Mount. Donated by Dennis Beltmann of Amery WI.
  7. We-no-nah Anniversary Metal Plate. Donated by Mike Cichanowski of Winona MN.
  8. Framed print of Frank Schoonover’s 1906 Oil on Canvas “WA-GUSH”. Donated by Lon Blakey of Oak Creek WI.
  9. Framed print of Frank Schoonovor’s 1924 Oil on Canvas “On Leaped The Canoe”. Donated by Lon Blakey of Oak Creek WI.
  10. Frost River Canoe Seat Bag.
  11. Greenland Kayak Donated by Carolyn Burnett of Sarona WI
Annual Canoe Raffle

A major fund raising activity for the WCHM is the annual canoe raffle. The winning ticket holder will once again have their choice of two canoes: an 18 foot 1946 Old Town Guide (serial #146660) newly restored in the WCHM Canoe Shop, or a 16 foot cedar canvas solo canoe that is still being built in the WCHM Canoe Shop. Tickets will be available at the boat show for $20 or six for $100. Although the final drawing will not be until September 2024, there will be several drawings for intermediate prizes during the boat show.

Where to Find Us:

​The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum is a 501c3 volunteer led non-profit organization based in Spooner, Wisconsin (312 N Front St). Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day is a free event in Spooner produced by the WCHM each year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information call 715-635-2479 or write to info@wisconsincanoeheritagemuseum.org. For nearby motel lodging we recommend Best Western Riverplace Motel at 715-635-9770. For camping, travel, or other lodging information contact the Washburn County Tourism Association at 800-367-3306.
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