Collecting for the Wisconsin History Center

The buzz for the new Wisconsin History Center has been in the air for some time–and it’s only getting more electric. You may have wondered, “What goes into collecting for a history center? And could I get a sneak peek?”  

We’re happy to share a behind-the-scenes look at acquisitions for the 100,000-square-foot new center scheduled to open in 2027. Because when it comes to collecting for a facility that will more than double the exhibition space of the former museum, it takes a team of specialists from across the Wisconsin Historical Society. Drawing from the Society’s collection of nearly 290 million items, the Wisconsin History Center will provide unparalleled access to both existing items as well as new acquisitions. 

The history center’s Culture Gallery, for example, will offer a lively celebration of Wisconsin’s identity in American culture. Collections Division Coordinator Lesley Davidson-Dahm shares, “Of the many hundreds of objects planned for display, the vast majority are already part of our collection, but there have been places during gallery design development where our consulting public historians, subject matter experts, or others have suggested opportunities to augment our themes with just the right thing.”  

The Culture Gallery will also feature twelve American Girl books to support displays about founder Pleasant Rowland and American Girl’s importance to Wisconsin. While these books are already known for their exploration of the United States social and cultural history, their display in the Culture Gallery will illustrate how Pleasant Company expanded what it means to be an American Girl–from the original three characters, Molly, Samantha and Kirsten, to the many historic characters we know and love today. 

One of the characters from the Historical Characters line, Addy Walker, has ties directly to the Society’s collection. On the cover of the book “Addy’s Summer Place,” Addy is depicted wearing a dress inspired by an actual dress in the Society’s collection which was worn by Anny Lyall, the youngest daughter of a Dane County farming family in the mid-1860s. The book will be displayed alongside the historic dress and an Addy doll wearing the American Girl dress based on the historic dress.