The Belgian Heritage Center in Wisconsin's Door County will unveil a new exhibit on Saturday, Nov. 9, celebrating the Walloon Belgian heritage of Packers co-founder Curly Lambeau.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a special dedication program for the Lambeau exhibit starting at 1 p.m. with speaking engagements from Cliff Christl, Packers team historian, and Kevin Cullen, deputy director of Green Bay's Neville Public Museum.
The new exhibit is in conjunction with last year's "100 Seasons" celebration and this season's "NFL 100" festivities. Visitors can view the Lambeau exhibit along with other exhibits that tell the story of the Belgian settlement in northeast Wisconsin. Belgian Booyah and refreshments will be served throughout the day.
The new exhibit traces Lambeau's ancestors back to Belgium before they immigrated in the 1870s, settling in Door and Brown counties. It also presents the story of Rockwood Lodge, located in the Belgian settlement near Dyckesville, which served as a residence for players and their families, as well as a team practice facility, in the 1940s. The exhibit includes several Lambeau-related artifacts on loan from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Inc.
Christl will share stories about how Lambeau co-founded the Packers and saved the franchise in the smallest market in the country. Christl was named Packers team historian in 2014 after a decorated 35-year career as sportswriter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where he primarily covered the Packers. Christl is the author of the Packers Heritage Trail book and is currently writing the comprehensive, definitive history of the Packers' first century. After his presentation, Christl will autograph and sell his Packers Heritage Trail book.
Cullen will speak about the Rockwood Lodge archaeology dig that he is leading at Brown County Bay Shore Park.
The Belgian Heritage Center is located at 1255 County DK, Brussels, Wis., in the former St. Mary of the Snows Church. The Center was established in 2010 to help preserve, promote and celebrate the unique Belgian heritage in northeast Wisconsin.
For more information, please visit belgianheritagecenter.org
