The Winneshiek County Historical Society
Invites Everyone to Celebrate!! June 15, 2024
10 AM: Welcome and Remarks at Vesterheim Commons
– Lorraine Borowski, Mayor of Decorah
– Prosper Waukon, Great-Great-Great Grandson of Chief Waukon Decorah
– Special reading by Mette Hammer
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: Music on the Patio by Decorah Municipal Band outside at Vesterheim. No rain location.
1-4 PM: Ice Cream Social at Winneshiek County Historical Society, with ice cream provided by Sugar Bowl and Fareway. Free tours of the WCHS museum. Event is free. Bring a lawn chair!!
2-4 PM: Meet and greet Prosper Waukon on location at Winneshiek County Historical Society
2-4 PM: Play Vintage Games At Phelps Park, Decorah’s oldest city park. Led by Locust School Committee of Winneshiek County Historical Society, in partnership with Decorah Park and Recreation. Rain location Decorah High School.
6-7 PM: Presentation: “The Waukon Decorah Family Legacy”, by Prosper Waukon at Hotel Winneshiek. Sponsored by Winneshiek County Historical Society and Hotel Winneshiek, Deco Products, & Decorah Rotary, and the Oneota Food Coop
Time for questions to follow. Event is free will donation all proceeds help our general operations.
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Decorah Commemorates its 175th Anniversary on June 15th
On Saturday, June 15th the City of Decorah, Iowa will commemorate the town’s 175th Anniversary – the Dodransbicentennial.
The public is invited to a short program at 10AM at Vesterheim Commons the morning of the 15th and is then encouraged to visit historic locations around the community where special tours, events, and family activities are taking place. The morning program includes remarks by Mayor Lorraine Borowski, Prosper Waukon (descendant of Chief Waukon Decorah), and a special performance of the Decorah Municipal Band.
Also on Saturday, is a presentation by Decorah Historic Preservation Commission Members Mark Muggli and Judy van der Linden titled What’s Still Here: Decorah’s Surviving Properties, 1849-1870. Winneshiek County Historical Society will host an Ice Cream Social event with ice cream provided by Sugar Bowl. Families are invited to enjoy vintage games at Phelps Park (Decorah’s oldest public park) courtesy of Decorah Parks and Recreation and the Locust School Committee. The Porter House Museum will host afternoon tours and Vesterheim will host a tour of the Painter-Bernatz Mill.
Prosper Waukon, who is in Decorah as a guest of the Winneshiek County Historical Society, will be onsite at WCHS (302 South Mill Street, Decorah) from 2-4PM for conversation with a more formal presentation to follow in the evening (6-7PM) at the Hotel Winneshiek in downtown Decorah. The program he will be presenting is called: “The Waukon Decorah Family Legacy”
For the full day’s schedule, specific event details and locations, and to stay apprised of additional opportunities go to Visit Decorah’s Facebook event or Visit Decorah’s Event Calendar visitdecorah.com/events.