The Wisconsin Historical Society will be hosting a public forum in Superior on Monday, October 1, 2018, to get feedback and share design concepts for a new modern, state-of-the-art history museum on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square. The goal of these sessions is to get feedback from educators, families, business leaders, and every sector of the public since the new state history project will be more than bricks and mortar; it will connect all 72 counties and tell the story of all Wisconsinites.

Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society and Jim Paine, Mayor of Superior will be available to come in-studio on Monday, October 1 to talk about this project and why it is important for the community to share their voices. The event, supported by local partners, The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, The Douglas County Historical Society and the Superior Public Museums will be held at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center on Monday, October 1, 2018, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The media is also invited to join us at the actual event.

The input that the Society receives at these public workshops will help shape future exhibits and storylines. This is a rare opportunity for the public to be a part of this process and to provide their vision of how the new museum can represent Wisconsin and their local community.

I’ve also included a press release below with more information. If you’re interested in having Christian and Jim come in-studio please reach out.

Thanks in advance!
Kara

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
Kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org
608-261-9596

September 14, 2018

Share Your Voice and See Design Concepts on a New, Modern Wisconsin History Museum

Superior, WI. – The local community is invited to join the Wisconsin Historical Society on Monday, October 1, 2018, to share their thoughts and ideas and see design concepts for a new modern, state-of-the-art history museum on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square. The goal of these sessions is to get feedback from educators, families, business leaders, and every sector of the public.

“The new state history museum project is about more than bricks and mortar and will connect the stories of Wisconsinites from all 72 counties. The input we receive at these public workshops will help shape future exhibits and storylines,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This is a rare opportunity for the public to be a part of this process and to provide their vision of how the new museum can present Wisconsin and their history to create relevant stories that have local significance and national impact.”

During these sessions, guests will have the opportunity to share feedback on current design concepts and share their thoughts on “What makes Wisconsin, Wisconsin” and how they would like a state history museum to serve their community.

The event, supported by local partners, The Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, The Douglas County Historical Society and the Superior Public Museums will be held at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center on Monday, October 1, 2018, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The evening will start with light refreshments and an introduction to the new museum project. Guests will hear from Christian Overland and Patrick Gallagher, principal and president at Gallagher & Associates, an internationally recognized museum design firm whose clients include other cultural institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, the Gettysburg Museum and the National World War II Museum. 

“Superior is a museum city with one of the most diverse and rich histories in Wisconsin,” said Jim Paine, Mayor of Superior. “We look forward to joining the Wisconsin Historical Society as we tell our story.”

The Superior event is a kickoff to the Society’s planned 19 public sessions and 14 American Indian nation engagement sessions that will be held across the state over the next year. All public sessions are free and open to the public. Guests can pre-register at wihist.org/yourvoice.

“As we hold more listening workshops across the state it is important for us to be inclusive and understand what types of stories and programs our guests would like in the new history museum,” Overland continued.  “We also want to understand how we can better serve our audiences in their towns and cities because we feel that everyone should feel welcomed in this museum, whether they visit in person or participate digitally.”

The Wisconsin Historical Society has been working towards building a new $120 million, 100,000-square-foot museum for more than 20 years. The new museum will more than double exhibition space, and include state-of-the-art technology while providing learning, meeting and flexible spaces. The new museum will reach and connect people all across the state through distance learning technology and exciting, modern exhibits.

For more information on the Wisconsin Historical Society visit wisconsinhistory.org.

About 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. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

###