"Chief Oshkosh museum rich lode of history" from the July 10, 1975 Door County Advocate
Chief Oshkosh museum rich lode of history
The Chief Oshkosh Memorial museum at Egg Harbor opened Saturday at Egg Harbor and is sure to be one of the county's most appreciated attractions.
This is not an Indian museum in general. It is filled with the artifacts of a real family that was prominent in Menominee history. The museum was put together lovingly by Chief Roy Oshkosh's widow Agnes and by his good friend John Taube of Sturgeon Bay.
Displayed are Roy's buckskins, his woodcarvings and jewelry, his game trophies and his eagle feather bonnets, now impossible to make because of wildlife restrictions.
The chief was a friend of Scouting and received many awards, including the Silver Beaver. These are displayed along with a bronze bust of Roy by Stuart Mong.
One of the most unique displays is a robe hand painted by Sacajawea, the Indian woman who guided Lewis and Clark. It was given to Roy's great great aunt and has been in the family since 1805.
The Chief Oshkosh museum at Egg Harbor has memorabilia of the historic Oshkosh family and fine examples of the late chief's many-faceted craftsmanship.
There is one of the stovepipe hats of Oshkosh the Brave, Roy's great great grandfather. The government wanted to move the tribe to a place near Redwing, Minn., and Oshkosh went to Washington to plead his case with Pres. Millard Fillmore.
Oshkosh the Brave was fond of wearing top hat and formal coat with loincloth and moccasins and saying "This is how the white man's law fits the Indian."
Other exhibits are snowshoes, ceremonial drums, antique bassinet and combination high chair and stroller, hand made wooden fish spear and leather woven landing net, and lacrosse-like sticks for a game.
There is a portrait of Reginald Oshkosh, Roy's father, who went to college at Carlisle, Pa., best known as Jim Thorpe's alma mater. As part of their exposure to the white world the students boarded out with families around the school. That's how Reginald met his wife-to-be, Rhoa.
Even the rug on the floor, a stock pattern anyone can buy, looks like it was tailor-made for the museum.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Other Native American-related posts: