If you're looking for ways to spark your kids (or your own!) creativity, look no further than Fulton's Workshop at the Rassbach Heritage Museum in Wakanda Park.
The workshop opened its doors as a new addition to the museum back in December 2017, thanks to a generous donation by Fulton Holtby.
Mr. Holtby, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota, was intrigued by UW-Stout's hands-on approach to learning and developed a connection with the polytechnic university and the city of Menomonie. After he died in 2007, he left the Dunn County Historical Society a sizable monetary donation and many personal items.
Visitors are invited to explore Fulton's Workshop, which features a re-creation of Holtby's home shop with his original tools, as well as several models Holtby fabricated or assembled.
The workshop features a wonderful makerspace where kids inspired by Holtby's inventions can get creative and build their own creations and inventions. This space is filled with recycled materials such as cardboard, old electronics and books, plastic items, a variety of bottles, and many other items to spark kid's imaginations.
Each month a different Make It! challenge is featured in the makerspace. These are STEAM activities for kids that promote the idea that science, technology, engineering, art, and math can all work together to help kids become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.
Whatever kids create in the makerspace they are free to take home.
The Play and Stay area provides hours of fun where children can use Lincoln Logs, K’nex, blocks, Legos, Tinker Toys, and other items to build creations. Magnetic tubes and tracks at the large stainless steel Wonderwall provide unlimited possibilities for Rube Goldberg-type contraptions and marble runs.
The Holtby Hall addition also has a large meeting space, with a prep kitchen and bathrooms, available to rent. Contact the museum for more information and rates.
The museum, including Fulton's Workshop, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am-5pm and Sundays by appointment.
Admission is $3 for children ages 5-17 and $5 for adults. A yearly membership to the Dunn County Historical Society is $50 for a household. In addition to supporting the DCHS, it will get you into the museum and some events for free.
More information about Fulton's Workshop can be found at the Dunn County Historical Society's Facebook page and website.
