MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Wisconsin History Center on Wednesday, April 23. The new cultural destination is rising on the site of the former state historical museum on Madison’s Capitol Square. The event included remarks from State, Society and Tribal leadership before officially kicking off construction of the long-awaited history hub. A ceremonial ground blessing performed by Ho-Chunk Nation drum group, Little Priest Singers, preceded the event.
“This is a historic day for Wisconsin,” said Christian Øverland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “With two decades of support from the State Legislature, the generosity of private donors, and the dedication of countless project champions, we are building more than just a museum—we are creating a place where all Wisconsinites can see themselves in history, and where connections between the past, present, and future will enrich the lives of each guest who walks through our new front door.”
The Wisconsin Historical Society is collaborating with an industry-leading architectural and exhibition design team to bring the five-story, 100,000-square-foot landmark to life. The design team is led by Wisconsin-based Continuum Architects in association with SmithGroup, as the lead designer. Ralph Appelbaum Associates, whose exhibition work includes many of the world’s most recognizable cultural attractions including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and London’s Imperial War Museum, is designing the exhibits. Madison-based Findorff will lead the building construction, which is expected to be completed in just over two years.
“I am thrilled to be here as construction begins on a venue that will not only preserve Wisconsin’s rich heritage but will also support future civic engagement, educational opportunities and economic vitality with ripple effects across Wisconsin,” said Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “The Wisconsin History Center ensures that the shared history of our region remains accessible, relevant and inspiring for generations to come.”
The new Wisconsin History Center is designed to double the exhibition space of the former state historical museum, which was housed in an undersized, deteriorating building that previously served as a hardware store. The new purpose-built facility will be able to meet growing visitation demand—welcoming more than 200,000 guests and 60,000 school students annually—and deliver a dynamic venue for engaging historical exploration, community programing and statewide reach.
The Wisconsin Historical Society is stewarding the future history center under the guidance and expertise of some of the nation’s leading experience designers, curators, scholars and historians, infusing insights from a wide range of community voices and perspectives, and in consultation with Native Nations.
“The sacred land we stand on here in Teejop—named for the four surrounding lakes that have sustained us since time immemorial—carries generations of stories, traditions and steadfast resilience,” said President Greendeer of the Ho-Chunk Nation. “Today, we take an important step in ensuring that the stories of our ancestors continue to be preserved, honored and shared for generations to come.”
The history center experience will be anchored by three core galleries that share regional stories in the context of American history, inviting guests to explore themes of civic engagement, human innovation and relationships with the land, and Wisconsin’s identity in American culture. Additional spaces include a rotating community gallery, a large changing gallery that can also host traveling exhibits, communal spaces for public programming, a café, retail storefront, sensory room, and a classroom, lunchroom and multipurpose room to serve students and community groups. The center also boasts a striking fifth-floor event space and adjoining rooftop terrace designed to host a variety of public and private gatherings.
Funding for the $160.5 million project has been provided by $112.3 million in state funds and $48.2 million in private donations. The total private campaign goal for the project is $66.5 million to support additional transition, opening and operating expenses, with more than $54.1 million secured to date. The fundraising campaign was propelled by $27.2 million in collective contributions from Jerry Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland, as well as a dozen lead donors that contributed $1 million or more to the project, including:
- Jane A. Bartell and John W. Thompson
- The Boldt Family Fund
- Mr. Craig C. Culver
- Robert Dohmen
- Mary Roelli Hilfiker
- Robert* and Patricia* Kern
- Kohler Trust for Preservation
- Ruth DeYoung Kohler II*
- Mr. Frederic Mohs
- David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
- Cathi Wiebrecht-Searer and Rick Searer
“The Wisconsin History Center is a testament to the generosity and passion of so many individuals and organizations that believe in the power of history to inspire and unite us,” said Julie Lussier, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation. “We are honored to stand here today on the precipice of this shared vision coming to life and we are humbled by the unwavering dedication of the many people who have made today possible.”
Sen. Kelda Roys, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate President Mary Felzkowski were also present to celebrate the groundbreaking milestone, underscoring the long-standing bipartisan State support for the new center.
“This is an exciting moment as we launch construction on a world-class museum that will energize Wisconsin tourism, deliver economic benefits to the state and serve as a point of pride for residents across all 72 counties,” said Robin Vos, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker.
While the Wisconsin History Center is being built, a temporary History Maker Space located on the main level of US Bank Plaza on Capitol Square offers an interactive education space for school groups along with history center sneak peeks, a refreshed retail shop and a new lineup of public programming. The Wisconsin History Makers Tour is also traveling the state in the lead-up to the opening of the new Wisconsin History Center. The tour brings history directly to communities across the state through pop-up exhibits, collection displays, author talks, special events and more.
For the latest updates on the Wisconsin History Center, including a live construction camera, visit wisconsinhistory.org/historycenter.
*in memoriam
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
