For Immediate Release 

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

June 12, 2019 

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society would like to thank Governor Evers, the Joint Committee on Finance, legislative leadership, Senate members and Assembly members for including the new state history museum project in the 2019-2021 Capital Budget. 

The Society is grateful for the leadership of our previous governors and administrations, including Governor Thompson who first supported the museum project, as well as Governor Doyle and Governor Walker for their continuous support. The Society would also like to thank our donors, members, the Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators, and the Wisconsin Historical Foundation Board of Directors whose hard work and steadfast commitment has inspired our state’s leaders and legislators to advance this significant project for the State of Wisconsin. 

“The new history museum will tell Wisconsin’s stories from all 72 counties and allow the Society to provide access to Wisconsin’s treasured national collection, which is second only in size and significance to the Library of Congress,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “Our goal is to more than double the number of students and families we serve, democratize the State’s collection, and create a new regional and national history museum destination in Wisconsin."

Over the last ten months, the Society has been traveling statewide holding over 40 community listening sessions to hear feedback regarding its plan for a new museum.  To date, over 4,000 citizens and students from across the state have provided feedback on the project. 

“As we travel throughout Wisconsin holding these listening sessions, people have been contributing their stories and are excited about our shared vision for a 21st-century museum,” continued Overland.

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 greater access to the Society’s collection. 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.

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