Paintings by J. Frank Waldo

A selection of paintings from the permanent collection showcasing the work of artist and Oshkosh resident J. Frank Waldo. >more

Wetlands & Waterways

Explore the relationships and interaction between people, animals, and waterways of the Lake Winnebago Region; Native American culture, fur trade, industry, and nature. >more

Memories & Dreams

Explore the rich history of the Lake Winnebago area told through the words of the people who lived there. See artifacts and images that capture the spirit of the region. Begin your journey with the pioneers, move on through the changes in rural life and traditions to the new opportunities and hardships of life as a craftsman or factory worker.
Take a moment and see how people played and relaxed in the past and then travel on to the excitement of town life and new technology.
Finish your adventure in Grandma's Attic where you are free to explore the trunks and drawers. Don't be surprised to hear voices and music from the past! Try on clothing and hats, play games from your childhood-or your parents' or grandparents'. Or take a break, rock on the porch, and share your own memories. >more

Winnebago Room

The Winnebago Room will take you back to the days of early settlement in the Lake Winnebago Region. Dozens and dozens of artifacts with a link to the pioneers of this area are now on exhibit. Four different display cases feature such treasures as a early medical instruments, the great Oshkosh fire relics, early firefighter helmets and speaking trumpets, a ladies wire hoop, beaded hand bags, Omro glass canes, pioneer rifles and pistols and many more amazing objects. Two more displays showcase the Native American heritage of our area, with many stone tools, baskets, moccasins and bags on view. One display case is dedicated to our military heritage, with uniforms, weapons and equipment ranging from the Spanish-American War to W.W. II. Make sure to see this new addition on the 2nd floor. >more

Logging and Lumbering

In our special exhibit gallery on the second floor you can travel back to the days when the Paine Lumber Company was the "world's largest door and sash manufacturer." Enjoy the scale model of the Paine Lumber Company commissioned by the Company in 1926 and created by Barber & Ross Studios of Washington, D.C. This monument in miniature includes 65 buildings and is now displayed in a room of its own. On the walls surrounding the model you will find artifacts and memories from the great logging days of northern Wisconsin. >more

Glass and Ceramics

The Sawyer Library is home to our Gallery of Glass and Ceramics exhibit where visitors can see over one hundred different exquisite examples of some of these: pattern glassware, lusterware, Wedgwood, majolica, spatterware, molded glassware, stoneware, transferware- just to name a few. Or you can just enjoy a quiet moment in this elegant room. >more

Apostles Clock

The eight-foot tall Apostles Clock was built in 1895 by Mathias Kitz, a German immigrant. When the clock strikes the hour, the Apostles pass before Christ and bow their heads. Meanwhile, a vintage Regina music box within the clock plays a hymn or melody. The clock is a wonderful piece of Wisconsin folk art and is one of the most popular attractions at the museum. >more

History of the Sawyer Family

Presenting the story of Edgar and Mary Jewell Sawyer, whose 1908 home became the Oshkosh Public Museum in 1924, with a replicated conservatory, family geneology dating to 495 A.D., historical photographs, and reproduction furnishings. >more

Virtual Exhibit

The Oshkosh Public Museum has compiled six exhibits containing historic photographs, documents, and artifacts from our collections. Their presentation has been made possible through a contribution from the federal Teaching American History Grant Project administered jointly by CESA 6 and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. >more