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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Wed 06 Jul, 2011 8:26 pm    Post subject: New museum opening in Wisconsin         Reply with quote

Not sure how much awareness there is in the community, but there will be a new arms and armor focused museum opening up in Alma, WI this Friday and Saturday. I found out about the museum about 2 years ago, from a friend of the collector who's launching it, and I still didn't know about the opening until this week. I think it's a pretty well kept secret.

The best place to get info on it is probably the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Castlerock-Arms-and-Armor-Museum/144346078971618

There is an official website, but I don't think it's been updated for a couple of years.

http://www.castlerockmuseum.com/newsite/museum.php
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Michael Pikula
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Location: Madison, WI
Joined: 07 Jun 2008

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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 7:51 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That is only 2 hours away from me.... I will probably make the trip out one of the days. If anyone from the community is planning on going one of the days this weekend please post your plans so we can try to meet up. I'll even bring some toys for folks to handle Happy
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 10:39 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I plan to be there on Saturday from 1 to 4. I can bring a couple of Albions along.
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T. Arndt




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 11:19 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for the heads up on this Scott. I'm surprised to have a museum like this so near. I plan on being there either Friday or Saturday depending on if this is something my significant other is interested in.
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Michael Pikula
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Location: Madison, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 12:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I didn't see any hours for Saturday, the facebook page mentioned 1-4 on Friday, are the hours the same on Saturday? Is there an admission cost?
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Nathan Robinson
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 12:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

What sort of items are in the collection? I didn't see much info on their Facebook page.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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T. Arndt




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 12:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Michael Pikula wrote:
I didn't see any hours for Saturday, the facebook page mentioned 1-4 on Friday, are the hours the same on Saturday? Is there an admission cost?


This is from their Facebook page (linked above):

Quote:
Castlerock Arms and Armor Museum
IT'S OFFICIAL!
Castlerock Arms and Armor Museum will have its Grand Opening on July 9th. Keep alert for more details to come!


Also, as to what they have, I don't know, but would like to see. This text is from their out-of-date webpage:

Quote:
NOTE: It is our intention to place the entire collection of the Castlerock Museum online. Obviously this involves a massive amount of cataloguing, pictures and computer input. For instance we have over 100 different examples of pole arms alone. . At this time we have now completed and are able to have most of our dagger collection online and most of our helmet collection online. We will be adding categories as soon as we feel we have a sufficiently representative group in each of the other categories. Keep watching this site, as we will be continually adding categories during the course of 2006. It is our intent that all of the collection will be online and available by the close of 2007.
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Michael Pikula
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Location: Madison, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 1:16 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The facebook page said they would be open tomorrow from 1-4, and I just gave them a call, the hours on Saturday are 1-4 as well.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids

I mentioned that a few collectors might be coming out and we wanted to bring a few pieces to show amongst ourselves and if that was okay or if there was a place that we could do that. The gentleman I spoke to, Gary, said that he didn't know what the crowd was going to be like, or what his availability was going to be, but that it would be okay and to let him know.

Naturally I inquired if there were swords in the collection and naturally the answer was yes Happy I guess a visit will determine the extent and time period.

I'm going to be there Saturday to make my visit. Shoot me a PM anyone will be there on Saturday as well and I'll get you my number so we can meet up!
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 5:07 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gary is the gentlemen whose collection is displayed in the museum, and who built and organized it. I don't think phones will be necessary to find people, as the building is probably around 15,000 sq ft. Yes, it's small, but he has some great pieces. There is a gun shield from Henry VIII's guard, which I was told is one of 17 or so surviving pieces (memory - 2 yrs ago). I know he has some two dozen or so swords, including a zwei hander that is one of the coolest pieces I've ever seen. The polearm collection is also quite nice, as T. Arndt alludes to.

I remember there was a gentlemen from the Royal Armoury at Leeds there helping to catalog and set up the displays, but I don't remember his name. (Chris something?)

Anyways, I found it to be an impressive collection, certainly much better than the small amount of the Oakeshott collection that was on display the last time I was there. I preferred it quite a bit to the collecton on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art as well.
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Jonathon Janusz





Joined: 20 Nov 2003

Posts: 470

PostPosted: Thu 07 Jul, 2011 5:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Scott, thanks for the info! I don't think I can make the opening this weekend, but this is now on my list of things to do this summer.
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Jamie Szudy




Location: Malaga Spain & Madison, Wisconsin
Joined: 23 Mar 2011

Posts: 15

PostPosted: Sat 09 Jul, 2011 3:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Sweet, I'll finally be moving back home to the States (southern WI) in a couple weeks. I'll have to pop by the next time I head up to the Twin Cities.
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Sat 09 Jul, 2011 5:43 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I have some pics from my visit today that Gary said would be ok to post online, but they are apparently too large to attach. Once I get them reformatted I'll add them. In the meantime, if anyone is considering visiting next weekend I could send them via PM or email.
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T. Arndt




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Sat 09 Jul, 2011 8:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I had a great time at the museum today. I was very impressed. There is Roman through 17th century arms, armor and miscellaneous accessories. I highly recommend seeing the collection if you are in the area. We bought a membership so we can go again soon.

@Michael Pikula: It was nice to meet you in person. The swords you brought are breathtaking, a real first rate job. I don't think I have ever handled single handed swords that feel so lively as yours do. Again, great job! If I ever have an opportunity to commission work with you, I will.

@Anyone interested in attending:
The Castle Rock Museum is open every Friday and Saturday 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM.

Basic admission: $5.00
Students: $3.00
Small Children (with supervising adults) / Active Duty personal: FREE
1 YR Member, 2 adults + children/grandchildren + 4 guest passes: $20.00
1 YR Member, 1 adult + 2 guest passes: $12.50

Note: Non-flash photography for personal use is acceptable.
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Craig Johnson
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PostPosted: Sun 14 Aug, 2011 5:23 pm    Post subject: Newspaper article         Reply with quote

Here is a link to an article about the museum and a pic of their Maxmillian

Castlerock Museum


Best
Craig
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T. Arndt




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Sun 14 Aug, 2011 6:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Newspaper article         Reply with quote

Craig Johnson wrote:
Here is a link to an article about the museum and a pic of their Maxmillian...


What struck me the most about this display when I visited was that strange sword- Is that a type XVIIId?

Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association (WHFA) - La Crosse
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Chad Arnow
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PostPosted: Sun 14 Aug, 2011 6:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Newspaper article         Reply with quote

T. Arndt wrote:

What struck me the most about this display when I visited was that strange sword- Is that a type XVIIId?


Are you talking about the one being held by the Maximilian harness? I'd call that an estoc.

Happy

ChadA

http://chadarnow.com/
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T. Arndt




Location: La Crosse, WI
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Posts: 226

PostPosted: Sun 14 Aug, 2011 6:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Newspaper article         Reply with quote

Chad Arnow wrote:
T. Arndt wrote:

What struck me the most about this display when I visited was that strange sword- Is that a type XVIIId?

Are you talking about the one being held by the Maximilian harness? I'd call that an estoc.


Thanks Chad. I had forgotten about these (and only really knew of them in passing).

For anyone else interested, I found these quick reads on the Estoc:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoc
http://www.myArmoury.com/review_mrl_estoc.html
http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_euroedge.html#tuck

Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association (WHFA) - La Crosse
A HEMA Alliance Affiliate

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” -Juvenal
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Dan Rosen




Location: Providence
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Posts: 98

PostPosted: Mon 15 Aug, 2011 9:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The museum looks really great! I found a gallery of pictures just now; their collection is pretty extensive.

http://leadertelegram.mycapture.com/mycapture...amp;view=1

The one thing I'm noticing that's off is that in pictures 6 and 15, they've got an anachronistic, fantasy-inspired shirt on display alongside extant weaponry. I think I'll be contacting the museum about swapping that out.

-Dan Rosen

"One day there will be no more frontier, and men like you will go too."
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Sun 28 Aug, 2011 9:18 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Just noticed the website link has changed. The new website is much improved and has better info along with a few pictures of pieces.

http://www.castlerockmuseum.com/main/

The museum will be open every day this coming Labor Day weekend, Fri - Mon. Still just 1-4 though. The docent corp is totally volunteer, and many of us can't do more than a few hours a month at this point.

Also a note from the website that many here might find interesting:

Quote:
Renaissance Re-enactment and Medieval Music Groups: We actively seek Renaissance or Medieval Reenactment groups and Medieval Music Groups who would like to work with us to organize and set up special events at Castlerock Museum. Please contact us.


Last edited by Scott Hanson on Sun 28 Aug, 2011 9:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
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PostPosted: Sun 28 Aug, 2011 9:36 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Here are some of the pictures I promised before.


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