The Prescott Area Historical Society (PAHS) is getting ready for another exciting season featuring its popular Steamboats, Towboats, and River History Exhibition. We have added photos, artifacts and stories to last year's collections with more coming in as people learn what we have to offer. Last year over 4,000 people visited and we hope to surpass that this year.

Last year we took a risk and planned five historical presentations at the Center at 235 N. Broad St. The events exceeded our expectations with “standing room only” for each one, and each time we added more seats. The last one had over 60 in attendance, not counting members.

When asked for feedback and suggestions: people said the speakers were excellent and the only suggestion was to have more of them. So this summer we have seven speakers planned, four repeats with different topics, and three new ones. Follow us on Facebook for updates. 

Our first show is at 7 p.m. May 8 with Captain Lee Hendrix, a 54-year river pilot, writer and riverlorian featuring the story of the Sultana, the greatest maritime disaster in American history.

In other PAHS news, great things are happening on many fronts. Many businesses in Prescott have come through for us with over 20 of them joining and helping us pay for our programming.  Helping each other helps us all. If your business is interested contact us at prescottahs@gmail.com

The Prescott Foundation and City of Prescott have partnered with us to get our buildings repaired and painted. Windows painted, rotten sills replaced, and new glass where needed. All metal supports and railings are to be redone and more. Watch the progress starting in mid-April. And our creative two-tone sign on the back will be replaced with all new signs with the generous help of the Prescott Lions Club.

Our History Center and Clock Tower are the first things people see when coming across our bridge, the start of the Great River Road in Wisconsin and a Wisconsin Byway. With over a 13,000 cars per day average crossing our car bridge, now we can show visitors a welcoming new face.

If you have not stopped in, please do. We are open each Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have a group or special request, other times can be arranged easily by sending us an email. If you are a history buff, we invite you to join us.  If you have historical items, we are always interested in scanning and returning photos, collecting artifacts, and the stories of our city. Check out our monthly Prescott History Sharing Day: the next one is at 1 p.m. April 20.

On April 14, we have an open meeting for all at 6 p.m. at the History Center. Stop by to listen in, make suggestions or join. No matter if you have lived here for several decades or a few weeks, we hope to see more of you; come to see what Prescott’s history is about.

Speaker Series

• Steamboats, Towboats & River History: 7 p.m. Friday, May 8. Captain Lee Hendrix, The Sinking of the Sultana – The Greatest Maritime Disaster in American History
• The Greatest Mysteries of Lake Pepin, 7 p.m. Friday, June 19 with Goran Pesic.
• The War Eagle & Galena – Sisters of Steam, 7 p.m. Friday, July 10 with Robert Taunt.
• Anthony Falls: One Tick of the Geologic Clock from Ending a 12,000-year Journey, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7 with Dr. John Anfinson.
• Immigration by Steamboat: 250 Years of Moving People, Good and Technology, 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept 12 with Capt. Tom Struve.
• Logging on Midwestern Rivers – 75 years of Prescott’s history, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct 2 with Capt. Dallas Eggers.
• An Evening with Amelia Earhart and Her Cousin, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 with Nancy Earhart Burt.
•  

Submitted by Dallas Eggers