Grab a blanket or lawn chair and head down to Carson Park for some good ol' rock and roll with the Hey Joe Band. Volunteer guides will be in the Anderson Log House and Sunnyview Schoolhouse, so visit the historic buildings. The museum's ice cream parlor will be selling ice cream treats, soda, water, and chips during and after the concert. Upcoming outdoor concerts: Sunday July 16, 2:00 pm: Peter Phippen with Victoria Shoemaker and Rahbi Crawford Sunday, July 30, 2:00 pm: Naalia
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Join Archivist Jodi Kiffmeyer for a downtown walking tour. You’ll get to know several of Eau Claire’s most famous characters including Darius Bresee, JJ Auer, and Dr. Annette Shaw. What was the Watson Diamond Case? You’ll have to tag along to find out. Registration is required and only six spots remain. Cost: $10/adult, $8/senior, $5 youth and students Recommended for ages 13+ |
PS -- People in the Chippewa Valley have been celebrating the Fourth of July at least since the 1850s. The earliest reference I've found to a celebration is in Lois Barland's Sawdust City. On July 4, 1856 Eau Claire residents raised a flag at the intersection of Dewey and Kelsey (East Grand Ave). People came in ox carts, on horseback, and in wagons from all over, all bringing something to eat. The picnic inlcuded pot pies made from wild pigeons, blueberry pie, and venison cooked in various ways. Dancing started at 5pm and lasted until 6 am the following day. Eau Claire had a pretty fantastic celebration in 1898. It started with a salute of 50 guns to commemorate 50 years of Wisconsin statehood. There were a couple of parades, numerous bands, and the day was filled with sporting events -- log rolling on the Eau Claire River, bicycle race, foot races, wheelbarrow race, and pole climbing with spurs. But what really caught my eye, and reminded me that the U.S. was in the middle of the Spanish-American War, was the evening "bombardment of Morro Castle" It had been erected on the point at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers and was reviewed by 50,000 people stationed on the bridges, river banks, buildings, etc. The castle was bombarded by Roman candles... and by cannon, in the meantime, many sky-rockets and other fireworks being sent off, the grand finale being the destruction of the castle, the catching fire of the old Spanish flag and the stars and stripes being run up in its place. -- The Gazette, Eau Claire, July 8, 1898 Morro Castle is a real place. It's a Spanish fort built in 1589 in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898 helped touch off the Spanish-American War, so people at the time were familiar with Morro Castle. It seems as the fireworks at the confluence were a hit for they continued there until at least 1902. Below is a short slideshow of past Fourth of July celebrations (including a photo of a firetruck decorated for the 1898 parade). Enjoy the day, however you choose to remember United States independence. |
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