Villa Louis head Caya-Slusser takes new position in history
Villa Louis Director Susan Caya-Slusser, who is pictured in December 2015, greeting Governor Scott Walker on the mansion’s front walkway, will leave her post at the Villa for a newly-created position, the director of southwest regional sites. (Photo by Correne Martin)
The Wisconsin Historical Society has appointed Susan Caya-Slusser to the newly-created position of director of southwest regional sites. This position will provide vision, leadership and general management to the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, Stonefield in Cassville, First Capitol in Belmont and Pendarvis in Mineral Point. The job will be based at Pendarvis.
“Susan prevailed in a search, which attracted top candidates from across the country,” according to Brian Thompson, administrator of the society’s museums and historic sites division. “Her strengths in building strong public programs and deepening community ties make her the perfect person to champion these four magnificent sites.”
Caya-Slusser recently directed Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie du Chien, and has been employed by the Wisconsin Historical Society since 2000. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public history from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Initial priorities will address the grounds and visitor experience at Pendarvis, with a commitment to enlivening the site’s storied role as a catalyst for preservation and tourism in southern Wisconsin. According to Thompson, the museums and historic sites division will anchor its annual retreat in March at Pendarvis.
“As Susan begins to reimagine our storytelling at Pendarvis, we’ll take a fresh look at the experience we are providing at the other southwest sites and across the state,” he said.
The society’s 12 museums and historic sites attract over 300,000 visitors each year and are supported through a combination of state, earned and gift funds. The First Capitol Historic Site recently hosted Governor Scott Walker for a town hall listening session. Preservation of the Cornish miners’ cottages at Pendarvis, supported through the operation of a successful inn, sparked tourism and preservation in Southern Wisconsin. Stonefield is home to the State Agricultural Museum.
The picturesque Villa Louis mansion became the state’s first historic site in 1952.
“The four southwest sites celebrate the boundless entrepreneurship, industriousness and community-mindedness that shape Wisconsin’s history since its territorial days,” said Caya-Slusser, adding, “Those are timeless lessons to share with children, families and all of our visitors.”
For more information on the Wisconsin Historical Society historic sites, visit wisconsinhistory.org/sites.
