Kenosha Public Museums - History, Dinosaurs and the Civil War

Kenosha, Wisconsin is a lakefront city with historic downtown area and three museums. The cultural institutions of Kenosha are easily accessible. Kenosha is located midway between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. The museums of Kenosha are a great, educational destination for a family oriented day trip,

The Kenosha museums are located near the Kenosha Harbor, which is on Lake Michigan. Lighthouses dot the shore and a trolley travels from the harbor into the downtown area. It is a scenic location to take in views of the lake and to visit the museums of Kenosha.

There are three museums in Kenosha; the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum and the Dinosaur Museum. The Kenosha Public Museum and the Civil War Museum are in close proximity to each other. The Dinosaur Museum is about ten blocks west of the museums near the harbor. Visitors can ride the trolley to the museums. Rides on the Kenosha Trolley are only 25 cents.

Kenosha Public Museum

The Kenosha Public Museum is celebrating its 75Th anniversary in 2011. In honor of the big anniversary, the museum is holding celebrations throughout the year,. The Museums Crawl, being held on Friday, July 15, includes all three museums with streetcar rides to transport visitors between the museums. The Museumathon, which is held August 19-22, is a 75 hour day and night event. Fire & Ice, being held December 3-4, celebrates the holidays with Lumineria, fireworks and ice sculptures.

The Kenosha Public Museum is devoted to natural sciences and arts. the exhibits include Native Americans, world cultures, zoology, fossils, geology and fine and decorative arts. The Kenosha Public Museum is located at 5500 First Avenue. Admission is free.

Civil War Museum

The Civil War Museum explores the Civil War as seen from the home front and the battle front. The exhibits include life-size dioramas and interactive exhibits. The focus of the museums on the effect of the war on the Midwestern states, particularly the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana. The Civil War Museum is located at 5400 First Avenue. General admission is $7.

Dinosaur Discovery Museum

The Dinosaur Discovery Museum focuses on the on link between birds and meat-eating dinosaurs. Visitors are treated to a display of theropods and primitive birds. There are eighteen species of dinosaurs on display. The museum is located at 5608 Tenth Avenue in Kenosha. Admission to the Dinosaurs Museum is free.

The Jelly Belly Factory, which offers tours, is located in Pleasant Prairie, south of Kenosha. The Bristol Renaissance Faire is a popular attraction in Kenosha County. The Bristol Renaissance Faire takes place weekends over several weeks during the summer.