Canoe Museum Season Opening Canoe & Wooden Boat Show

The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum in Spooner will celebrate Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Day on Saturday,
May 23 (Memorial Day Weekend), from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a free public open house and the 17th
Annual Canoe & Wooden Boat Show. This annual event marks the museum’s season opening and features a full
day of activities, including access to the exhibit hall, demonstrations in the canoe workshop, live outdoor music,
food and beverages in the beer garden, a silent auction, a canoe raffle, and the popular wooden boat show.
17th Annual Canoe & Wooden Boat Show Highlights
The Canoe & Wooden Boat Show remains the centerpiece of the celebration. More than 15 exhibitors are
expected to display wooden boats of many styles and eras—from classic heritage craft to contemporary
designs—along with vintage paddling equipment and watercraft-related artifacts. Among the early confirmed
exhibitors are Paul Klonowski of Mundelein (IL), presenting two Loonworks canoes built by Tom MacKenzie, and
Thomas Knuteson of Waukesha (WI), displaying a 1948 Lake Snipe paired with a 1948 4.5 hp Martin outboard
motor.
Featured Guest Exhibitor: Michael Grace
New this year, the boat show introduces a featured “celebrity exhibitor” program. The inaugural spotlight falls
on Michael Grace of Gray, Georgia—a writer, photographer, historian, collector, and restorer of antique wooden
canoes and related ephemera. Grace will present a newly restored Racine Indian Paddler lap strake canoe,
complementing the museum’s current Wisconsin Canoe Builders exhibit. He will also discuss the specialized
tools, techniques, and restoration materials he has researched and tested extensively—an area expected to
draw strong interest from canoe enthusiasts and restorers alike.
Special Canoe Auction
Another highlight of the day will be an auction featuring recently donated watercraft. Items include: A 1910 Old
Town Charles River canoe (serial #12844), in excellent condition and water-ready; A second full-size canoe of
unknown origin, ready for use; and an Old Town restoration project canoe. Additional details and photos will be
posted on the museum website prior to the event.
Live Music, Food & Beer Garden
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy live music and refreshments in the outdoor beer garden on the museum’s
“back porch” stage. Featured performers include Little Way, a Northwoods-based husband-and-wife country
duo and Blu Kanu, a local acoustic sibling duo performing favorites from the 1970s to today.
Free Community Event
This free annual celebration welcomes visitors of all ages and interests—from paddling enthusiasts and
collectors to families and first-time museum guests. The event is hosted each year on the Saturday of Memorial
Day Weekend by the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum in Spooner. For event details and auction previews visit
www.WisconsinCanoeHeritageMuseum.org.