For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
[email protected]
608-261-9596

March 12, 2019

Appleton Community is Invited to “Share Your Voice” with the Wisconsin Historical Society on a New State History Museum

Appleton, WI. – The Appleton community is invited to join the Wisconsin Historical Society on Wednesday, March 20, at The History Museum at the Castle from 8:30-10:00 am (doors open at 8:00 am) 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 in Madison.

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

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

“We applaud the vision of the Wisconsin Historical Society to build a new museum and most importantly to create new ways of interacting with the citizens and historical societies around the state of Wisconsin,” said Tom Sutter, president of the Appleton Historical Society.  “We have prided ourselves as well on taking history out to the public, beyond the bounds of any building.”

The morning will start with an introduction to the new museum project. Guests will hear from Christian Overland and then participate in two workshops that will help develop feedback and conversations. 

Attendees are also invited to experience the “Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame” traveling exhibition before or after the listening session. This exhibit is the most extensive and comprehensive exhibition featuring America’s most popular sport ever to tour and includes a customized area showcasing Wisconsin's own home team, the Green Bay Packers. At this exhibit, guests will also see a Jerry Kramer jersey on loan from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The event is supported by local partners, The History Museum at the Castle and the Appleton Historical Society.

The Society is traveling the state and will be holding over 40 community listening sessions as well as 14 American Indian nation engagement sessions and listening sessions with students. 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.

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