Share Your Voice: Mauston
Area residents discuss plans for a new Wisconsin history museum
Guests enjoy a laugh while having a discussion during the Wisconsin Historical Society's "Share Your Voice" new museum session Feb. 11, 2019 at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston.
Story and photos by Hannah Hankins
Wisconsin Historical Foundation
MAUSTON — The 2019 portion of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s “Share Your Voice” new museum statewide engagement series got off to a great start on Feb. 11 with a full house at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston.
Mauston resident Catherine Orton, Chair of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation's Board of Directors, welcomes guests to the Society's "Share Your Voice" session Feb. 11, 2019 in Mauston.
Residents and history enthusiasts from the Juneau County area participated in a lively discussion that was the first of 38 events to be held around the state through June, as the Society continues to gather important local feedback and ideas that will inform planning for a new Wisconsin history museum.
The event at the Hatch Public Library was co-hosted by the Juneau County Historical Society. Representatives from around a dozen local historical societies were also present to offer insight on their unique communities and provide feedback on early concept design renderings for a new museum.
Nancy McCullick, president of the Juneau County Historical Society, welcomes guests to the "Share Your Voice" session after being introduced by Mauston resident and Wisconsin Historical Foundation Board Chair Catherine Orton, right.
Mauston resident Catherine Orton, chair of the Wisconsin Historical Foundation Board, provided the welcome for the evening. Orton noted that the idea for a new Wisconsin history museum started almost 20 years ago with Juneau County native Gov. Tommy Thompson, and she provided background on the public-private partnership that will fund the museum. She then introduced Juneau County Historical Society president Nancy McCullick, who recognized board members and members of the local society.
The session was led by Alicia Goehring, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Director of Special Projects and Interim Director of Programs and Outreach. “Tonight we really want to hear from you,” said Goehring. “We’re very committed to the idea that this is the Wisconsin History Museum, and we want to get your feedback and input in the process.”
Goehring introduced the project with a video that highlighted the new museum’s overall storytelling theme, “What Makes Wisconsin, Wisconsin?”
“When you’re in the new Wisconsin History Museum, you ought to know that you’re in Wisconsin in every single place you visit, whether you’re in the café or the restroom, buying a ticket, or in the exhibits,” she said.
Goehring then engaged guests in three workshop-type activities in which attendees shared topics of local importance, reacted to proposed exhibit design renderings and shared their most memorable museum experiences. Goehring concluded the evening by encouraging attendees to contact their legislators to voice their support for the project.
Guests enjoy a laugh while discussing ideas during the Society's "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session Feb. 11, 2019 at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston.
A guest makes his point while discussing an idea during the Wisconsin Historical Society's "Share Your Voice" new museum session Feb. 11, 2019 at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston.
Guests discuss their ideas Feb. 11, 2019 during the Society's "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session in Mauston.
Guests enjoy a laugh while discussing ideas during the Society's "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session Feb. 11, 2019 in Mauston.
A guest writes down his feedback on early concept exhibit design renderings during the Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session in Mauston.
Guests discuss ideas they're writing on Post-It notes during one of the workshop activities at the Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session in Mauston.
A woman shares her thoughts with fellow guests during the Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" new museum engagement session in Mauston.
A guest raises his hand to share an idea as Wisconsin Historical Society Special Projects Director Alicia Goehring conducts a workshop activity during the Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" new museum session in Mauston.
A sign gratefully recognizing event sponsors and table of materials welcomes guests to the Wisconsin Historical Society's Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" new museum public engagement session at the Hatch Public Library in Mauston.
Mauston Word Cloud
Suggestions made on Post-It notes during the Feb. 11, 2019 "Share Your Voice" engagement session in Mauston, offering ideas about what guests to a new Wisconsin history museum should know about their area, were turned into this word cloud, with the most suggested words in the biggest type.
"SHARE YOUR VOICE" STATEWIDE SESSIONS
Click here to return to the "Share Your Voice" page to see more dates and locations!