Dubois County Museum Unveils Wood Exhibit, Events, and Building Upgrades

The Dubois County Museum opened its "Wonders of Wood" temporary exhibit last weekend, spotlighting naturally formed wood shapes, carved furniture, and the woodcarving mastery of local artisan Joe Schoenbachler. The debut coincided with the completion of capital improvements to the building, including new tinted, energy-efficient windows on the west side and a refreshed facade, funded in part through a Visit Dubois County grant.

The exhibit draws on both organic and handcrafted forms, using Schoenbachler's carvings to anchor a display that traces wood from natural curiosity to finished craft. It anchors a spring programming calendar that runs well into May.

Fourth-grade students visited April 7 and 8 in teacher-guided sessions that wove together geology lessons, quilting demonstrations by the Patoka Valley Quilters, and a mural-making presentation by Kim Schum Schroeder. Science teacher Vic Hurm also presented to students as part of the museum's ongoing classroom partnership model, which brings in local volunteers and subject specialists rather than relying solely on staff.

This Saturday, April 11, the museum hosts two programs simultaneously: Chess Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Storytime with Carrie at 10:30 a.m. The chess event runs the full day; Storytime offers a shorter option for families with younger children.

The museum's third annual Amateur Photo Contest is also accepting entries this month, with public voting opening in May. On May 2, the museum holds its "Tea with Teddy" fundraiser; registration and ticket details are available through the museum's contact emails and Facebook page.

The new west-side windows represent one of the more substantial physical investments the museum has made in recent years. The tinted, energy-efficient units should lower energy costs heading into summer while improving comfort for visitors and the collections housed inside. The facade work, also supported by the Visit Dubois County grant, signals the kind of infrastructure attention that sustains a volunteer-staffed institution operating Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays.