The largest collection of Hmong artifacts is here in Northcentral Wisconsin.

From a handmade skirt to a mouse trap to a rice steamer, one Mosinee couple is the owner of these and thousands of other items the Hmong used in their daily lives in Southeast Asia.

Eight years and 10 trips to Laos ago, former D.C. Everest High School Principal Jim Harris brought back his first bag full of objects.

"It was a wonderful reception. Old people had tears in their eyes and children got excited," says Harris.

The excitement grew over the years as Jim and wife, Martie, continued to bring back suitcases of this stuff.

Soon they had enough for a display at the Marathon County Historical Society during April Hmong History Month. The last public showing of the items was back in April 2006, when in 30 days, more than 4,500 people passed through the doors.

Since then, however, it's been locked and boxed away.

"We Hmong must come together to erect a museum to preserve and teach our children," says Wausau resident Pa Moua.

The items are also a reminder to Choua Yang about the struggles she faced while fleeing war-torn Laos.

"We couldn't bring anything," Choua says in Hmong. "We could only bring our children, one outfit to change into and cloth from a parachute to make a bed."

After 28 years, Choua said she will never forget what she went through and she wants her children and their children to remember and appreciate their history, as well.

Jim and Martie are asking for your help to find a permanent place for the Hmong artifacts. Again, their hope is to have all the items on display and available for school tours and visitors.

If you would like to help or share your idea, please check out Bao's blog at the Blog Center by clicking here.