Chippewa Valley Museum

Embark on a journey through time exploring various stages of our rich history — the Ojibwe tribes settling in the area, Europeans innovating the region with sawmills and automobiles, and social, economical, and technological changes making their way around the world — and see how the beautiful Chippewa Valley came to be at the Chippewa Valley Museum! The museum is located in Carson Park in Eau Claire and operates to preserve artifacts from the coming ages and tell stories of the valley's ancestors. Here, you'll find interactive exhibits, fascinating mementos, historic buildings, and more pieces significant to the upcoming Chippewa Valley.

Walk through the decades of the Chippewa Valley dating back to the 1650s in Canoe Country, and learn about the Ojibwe settlement, French fur trading, and all about life traveling in canoes. Progress to the 1800s when European settlers develop statehood, treaties, and a sense of government. As you move through the decades, explore the various industries forming throughout the region, and even stand on the deck of a steamboat, look into shop windows, learn about the sawmills, and find out what happens when the trees are cut down in the area. Move into the early 1900s when automobiles are drawing more people to Wisconsin, recreational fishing is introduced, and farming reinvents the American lifestyle. 

Celebrate the history of the Chippewa Valley with a journey through the Chippewa Valley Museum! Become an expert on the region's history in agriculture, education, innovation, and recreation with one-of-a-kind exhibits and artifacts at the museum. For more information about what the Chippewa Valley Museum offers, click here!

Wisconsin Logging Museum

Experience the life of a lumberjack in Carson Park at the Wisconsin Logging Museum! This museum is an exhibit at the Chippewa Valley Museum and replicates an authentic 1890s logging camp. Learn about the history of the lumber industry in the Chippewa Valley and the pine trees that were transported down the Chippewa River, the lumberjacks that made a home at the camps, and the technology behind building and operating a logging camp in the late 1800s. You'll find life-like cabins with living quarters, kitchens, and entertainment in the cabin for the true logging camp experience. But wait! Don't forget to snap a photo with the famous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox outside the camp before you leave!

Hours & Ticket Information

Mondays: Closed
Tuesdays: 5 pm - 8 pm
Wednesdays - Sundays: 12 pm - 5 pm

Admission: All Sites

Includes Chippewa Valley Museum Exhibits, School House, Log House, Wisconsin Logging Museum Exhibits, and Logging Camp

Adults - $18
Students - $7 (with valid school ID)
Ages 5-17 - $7
Under 5 - free

Admission: Single Site

Chippewa Valley Museum or Wisconsin Logging Museum

Adults - $12
Seniors - $10
Students - $5 (with valid school ID)
Ages 5-17 - $5
Under 5 - free

Museum memberships are available.

Other Things to Do While You're Here

Action City & Trampoline Park

At Action City, your family will be surrounded by fun and adventure for all ages! Burn off some energy at the Trampoline Park, take a dip at Chaos Water Park, or spend the day playing mini golf, taking on the laser tag course, ziplining, playing over 150 arcade games, and driving on the Midwest's largest go-kart track! After a full day of play, fuel up with a dinner at City Eats, and get some rest at Metropolis Resort! Click here to see all the fun you can find at Action City.

Beaver Creek Reserve

If you're looking for family-friendly, outdoor adventure in the Eau Claire area, Beaver Creek Reserve is your one-stop spot! Connect with nature at the reserve, and meet the animals in the Scheels Discovery Room and the butterflies in the seasonal Butterfly House. Take the trails through the reserve for a wilderness hike, or travel by water with canoe and kayak rentals. In the evenings, you can even go stargazing at Hobbs Observatory! Check out everything that Beaver Creek Reserve has to offer here. 

Children's Museum of Eau Claire

See your children transform into bankers, veterinarians, farmers, mail carriers, historians, doctors, mechanics, and more at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire. Let imagination transpire across two levels of kid-friendly exhibits, education, and play! This downtown museum is a hot spot for local and visiting families and is sure to be loved by visitors of all ages. Be sure to add the Children's Museum to your family-friendly itinerary on your trip to Eau Claire!

Day Trip to Osseo

Find all sorts of family fun by taking a short day trip to Osseo, Wisconsin. Just a 20-minute drive from Eau Claire, vacation is waiting at Stoney Creek with RV, tent, and cabin sites. Get the full Stoney Creek experience with a game of mini golf, a jumping pillow, and swimming in the pond with a WIBIT system! Click here to see more fun to be had in Osseo.

Explore Carson Park

All year long, you can find adventure and exploration right in Carson Park! Catch an Eau Claire Express baseball game in the summer, find the best fishing spots in Braun's Bay, or hang your hammock in the park. If you're fascinated with the Wisconsin Logging Museum, be sure to check out the US Chainsaw Sculpture Championship in Eau Claire at Carson Park! Check out more family-friendly activities to do in Carson Park here.

Check out Chainsaw Carving in the Chippewa Valley

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