Life in Grandma's and Grandpa's Time

Event time listed allows 15 minutes to park, use the restroom, and find the group.

WE WILL ONLY ATTEND THIS EVENT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH INTEREST - PLEASE REGISTER PROMPTLY AND KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR EMAIL FOR CONFIRMATION ON MONDAY.

What if we measured time in Grandmas? Take a look at history through the lens of the generations before you.

My name is Sam. My Grandma was born is 1963- President Kennedy was assassinated that year. My Great- Grandma was born in 1945 – V-E Day and V-J Day. She would never know the conflict that my Great-Great Grandma knew, she was born in the roaring 20s. And Great-Great-Great Grandma? She remembers reading in the paper about the Titanic striking an iceberg. And My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandma? She was born in 1882….. And my 10x Great Grandma – she was 10 years old when America became its own independent nation.

We know it isn’t perfect, but it is personal. America 250 for us is a celebration of the generations it took to get the USA to where it is today. We invite you to explore and write your own American story.

As part of this field trip you will:

• Discover local ties to many historical events, up to and including the Revolutionary War.

• Look at various events in our history with the lens of your grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. What was the world like for each of these generations - going back to 1776.

• Understand that history is more than a collection of dates, events, and famous people; it is the shared stories and experiences of all people throughout time.

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Grandparents receive free admission! Bring your grandparent along to learn about their lived history (no need to register grandparents with student registration).

Program format: This is a self-guided program. We suggest allowing at least 2 hours to experience all the stations. Your group is welcome to set aside a time and space for a lunch break. Please note that our Manitowoc County Historical Society has a carry in, carry out trash policy.

We will be eating lunch when we arrive and then taking part in the activities!

Celebrate America 250!

On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone began with the start of the American Revolution in Concord on April 19, 1775.

Although it may seem that a turn of the 20th century historic site in Wisconsin is a bit removed from the American Revolution, our histories couldn’t be more intertwined. The ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were just as critical to families in the 1860s as they were to families in the 1770s.

And, like many other museums around our country, it was thanks to the excitement surrounding America’s Bicentennial in 1976 that the support and determination of our community that our Pinecrest Village was created. The ideas of 1976 remind us why preservation of our history matters - so we can continue to explore how the past informs who we are today.