Curling has a long, proud history in Portage
The sport of curling, brought to this country by immigrants from Scotland, has been popular in Portage since the 1850s when teams curled on the canal and Silver Lake. Before the days of granite curling stones, they used a section of an oak tree that had been felled, cut to size and the edges rounded. Later, local foundries fashioned iron blocks that skimmed across the sheets of ice. Some of those old curling “stones” are on display at the museum, and you’ll also be able to study a collection of curling photos to see how the sport has changed in the last 160 years.
Portage Curling
Famous Old Crusaders Rink Curlers of Portage
Portage Curling
Curling Club with Locks and Canal in Foreground
Portage Curling
Portage Curling Center
Portage, WI
OTHER EXHIBITS
Our exhibits tell our stories
Step into the past to learn about our history: the American Indians who lived here for thousands of years, the explorers who visited, the settlers who moved here in the early 1800’s, followed by the entrepreneurs who saw opportunity, and the men and women who built homes, schools, stores and churches. Most of the artifacts in our exhibits came from Portage residents who lived ordinary lives in this small town on the big river.
