The Chippewa Valley Museum sits in Carson Park, which makes it easy to combine with the lake, trails, and other family stops nearby. Its exhibits explain the lumber, farming, immigration, industry, and everyday life that shaped Eau Claire and the surrounding valley.
This is not a blockbuster museum, but it is a good local-history stop in a city whose story is tied closely to rivers and timber. It is especially worthwhile if you want Eau Claire to feel like more than a pleasant college town with a music scene.