What’s Cookin’? Two Centuries of American Foodways
(January 23 - March 25, 2009)

When we think about food, most of us think about more than just fuel for our bodies. What we choose to eat depends on our family traditions, our ethnic heritage, and our regional customs. Whom we choose to eat with defines our circle of family and friends.

The Dacotah Prairie Museum presented a new traveling exhibit from the Roger’s Historical Museum in Rogers, Arkansas, called “What’s Cookin’? Two Centuries of American Foodways.” The exhibit opened on January 23 and ran through March 25th, 2009. It was located in the 2nd floor’s Lamont Gallery.

 This exhibit told the history of food in America. In the early 1800s, Americans grew much of what they ate and women spent long hours over fireplaces preparing food. That has evolved into the huge supermarkets, labor saving appliances and take-out food of our century. The exhibit explains how regional foods were born, the commercial life of food, and the politics of food demand. It shows how inventions such as stoves, refrigerators, and microwaves changed America’s cooking habits forever.

The Dacotah Prairie Museum also added the local flavor with photographs and artifacts from local stores, food companies, and restaurants. Artifacts from the Museum’s collection include: “Ball” canning jars, 2-sided toaster, an early mixer, glass milk bottles, and a two gallon bucket of dipping chocolate. Emphasizing the importance of eating together as a family, good table manners, and proper mealtime behavior, a beautiful dining room table occupied a portion of the gallery elegantly set with china, crystal and silver.

In addition to enjoying the “What’s Cookin’?’ exhibit, two special programs were held. On Sunday, February 22, at 1:30 pm Karen Flakus, owner of the kitchen and coffee shop “Inspire” was at the Museum. She demonstrated kitchen gadgets and provided tasting samples of some of the gourmet food and mixes for sale at her shop. Ms. Flakus answer questions on the newest innovations in the world of food.

On Sunday, March 14th, at 1:30pm, Natural Abundance Food Store provided a program on the history of natural food in America and the newest movements toward reclaiming the wholesome, natural food of our past.

For information on past exhibits in the Lamont Gallery, please click here.