Pop-up exhibits, future history center sneak peeks, a new retail storefront and more coming in 2023

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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society is excited to share that temporary space has been secured to continue offering public and school group programming during the design and construction phase for the new Wisconsin history center. The dynamic temporary space will be conveniently located in the main level of the US Bank Plaza at 1 S. Pinckney Street, across the Capitol Square from the former Wisconsin Historical Museum, which closed its exhibits late last year. The Wisconsin Historical Society will begin hosting school groups at the new space in March, followed by a full programming launch this fall that will include pop-up exhibits, author talks, history center sneak peeks, a new retail shop and more.

“We have exciting plans in the works to stay connected to communities across the state as we prepare for the new history center, and this pop-up space on the Capitol Square is particularly ideal for continuing to serve school groups,” said Christian Øverland, the Ruth & Hartley Barker Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “This venue allows us to continue engaging with people from all corners of Wisconsin while we build a new, modern facility where history is accessible, relevant and shared through powerful storytelling.”

Funding for the temporary space has been provided in part by Urban Land Interests, the site’s property management and development firm. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation is seeking additional community partners to raise funds for multi-year programming to be offered in the Madison space as well as pop-up experiences planned for other regions of the state.

“We are excited to partner with the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Historical Foundation to provide a temporary space to continue serving school groups and communities statewide while Wisconsin’s new history center is designed and built,” said Brad Binkowski, co-founder of Urban Land Interests.

Exhibitions at the former Wisconsin Historical Museum were closed in November 2022 due to rapidly deteriorating building conditions and to allow for the careful process of transferring artifacts into secure storage at the State Archive Preservation Facility in Madison.

Demolition of the existing building and construction of the new history center are expected to begin in 2024 and be completed in late 2026. The Society announced the selection of industry-leading exhibit designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates, international engineering and planning firm SmithGroup, and the award-winning Continuum Architects + Planners for the project. The future history center will more than double the exhibition space of the current museum with more than 200,000 visitors expected annually.

The Wisconsin Historical Museum’s existing retail store remains open until it moves to the new temporary space this fall. The Wisconsin Historical Society will continue to host the museum’s popular lineup of walking tours and school-age day camps this summer.  

For the latest updates on the new history center or to donate to the project, visit wisconsinhistory.org/historycenter.

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.

About the Wisconsin Historical Foundation

The Wisconsin Historical Foundation exists to advance the mission of the Wisconsin Historical Society: to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Society and administers the membership program. Visit wisconsinhistory.org for more information.