Castlerock Museum

Visit Alma, Wisconsin on Saturday, June 6th from 10am-4pm for Castlerock Museum’s annual Fire in the Shire event, a citywide celebration of all things medieval. The highlight of the day will be the various demonstrations taking place on the street in front of the museum. Kazimir the Hungry will be breathing fire and swallowing swords at 10am, 12:50pm and 3:10pm. The Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association will demonstrate the longsword at 10:30am, rapier dagger at 11:40am, the quarterstaff and poleaxe at 1:20pm, and Messer / sword and buckler at 2:30pm. Visitors can learn about Armor through the Ages at 11:10am. New this year, Asfolk Viking Martial Arts will be doing sword, shield, and spear demos at 12:20pm and 2pm. There will be ongoing displays by Clann Tartan, A Life Medieval, and Hangin’ with the Bard in the museum courtyard. Clann Tartan will do a pike demo at 11:30am and a non-firing matchlock demo at 1:30pm. Bardmageddon will perform in the museum theater at 12:30pmpm and 2:30pm and One Eye Dave’s Hotdogs will provide concessions. The museum closes at 4pm. Admission wristbands are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Visitors in ancient, medieval, or renaissance era dress get $2 off and children four and under are free. Visitors interested in searching for the fabled “Holy Grail” in the shops of the shire can enter a drawing [...]

On Saturday, May 16th at 2pm, Sara Thielen will discuss “Medicine in Western Wisconsin during the Frontier Days” at Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin. The frontier days were dangerous times. Injuries from hunting and farming happened without cell phones to call for an ambulance. Without a pharmacy, there was no way to purchase medicine to bring down a child’s fever or soothe a cough. Doctors were in very short supply, if they existed at all in the area. So, what did the people who lived in the communities along the Mississippi River and the surrounding rural communities do when their lives were in danger? Sara Thielen is the Public Health nurse with Buffalo County Public Health. In her spare time, she reads and studies history. She has combined her love of nursing, history, and Western Wisconsin in this presentation. She will explore the different diseases and common medical treatments of the past. It might not be a surprise that it wasn’t much different than today. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and free for members. Seating is limited. Reservations can be made by contacting the museum at 608-685-4231. https://wabashachamber.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/castlerock-5.jpg

https://wabashachamber.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025-Meet-the-Vikings.jpeg Last year’s Vikings included Tom and Kitty Latane, Patrick Kelly, Sally Anderson, Terry Sorchy, Janet Runions, Jamie LaBreck, and Nancy Sorchy. Want to learn more about the Vikings? Then visit Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin on Saturday, April 11th from 10am - 4pm for the museum’s annual “Meet the Vikings” event, a daylong celebration of all things “Viking.” Reenactors will be on hand to answer questions about Viking history, culture, clothing, and weapons. There will be programs in the museum theater on Greenland in the Viking Age at 11am, Viking Clothing at 1pm, and Viking Weapons, Armor, and Tactics at 2pm. The latter will be followed by a shield wall demonstration, weather permitting. Ongoing demonstrations include flax weaving and woodworking. Visitors can also see several actual Viking era artifacts on display including a spangenhelm, chieftain’s sword, and Danish axe. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students. Children four and under are free. Contact the museum at 608-685-4231 or [email protected] for more details.

Want to learn more about the Vikings? Then visit Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin on Saturday, April 11th from 10am - 4pm for the museum’s annual “Meet the Vikings” event, a daylong celebration of all things “Viking.” April 11th 10am - 4pm $8 for adults, $5 for students, children four and under are free Reenactors will be on hand to answer questions and there will be programs throughout the day on Viking history, culture, clothing, and weapons. Demonstrations will include traditional Viking crafts including woodworking. Visitors can also see several actual Viking era artifacts on exhibit including a spangenhelm, chieftain’s sword, and Danish axe. Contact the museum at 608-685-4231 or [email protected] for more details.