Peshtigo Fire Museum facts for kids
The Peshtigo Fire Museum helps us remember the terrible Peshtigo Fire. This huge fire destroyed the city of Peshtigo, Wisconsin and nearby areas. It happened on October 8, 1871. Over 2,000 people lost their lives in this disaster.
The museum shares stories about the fire. It shows items that survived the blaze. You can also see how people lived back then. Next to the museum is the Peshtigo Fire Cemetery. Here, the remains of over 350 people were buried together. This cemetery is a very important historical site.
Contents
Amazing Items from the Fire
The museum has many special items. These objects tell the story of the Peshtigo Fire. They help us understand what happened.
The Tabernacle That Survived
One very special item is a Church tabernacle. A tabernacle is a special box used in churches. A local priest, Father Peter Pernin, saved it. He put it in the Peshtigo River to protect it. The tabernacle came out of the fire without any damage.
Other Fire Relics
You can also see a small, burned Bible. There is also a melted glass dish. A construction worker found this dish in 1995. The Bible is open to Psalms 106 and 107. The museum also displays letters from people who lived through the fire. These letters describe what it was like. One letter talks about burying many people.
Maps and Murals
The museum has maps of Peshtigo. One map shows the town before the fire. Another map shows how much land the fire burned. A large mural also shows the town. It pictures Peshtigo before, during, and after the fire.
Local History Items
Besides fire items, the museum shows other old objects. These items tell the history of the area. All the things you see in the museum were given as gifts.
The Museum's Story
The museum building has its own interesting history. It stands where St. Mary's Catholic Church once was. That church burned down in the 1871 fire.
After the fire, a new church was built. It was a Congregational church. This church was across the river. A new Catholic church was also built where St. Mary's used to be. That Catholic church burned down again in 1927.
Later, the Congregational church building was moved. It came across the river to the old St. Mary's site. This happened after 1927. In 1963, that building became the Peshtigo Fire Museum.
See also
- Fire museum
