Wisconsin Historical Museum
Collecting, Preserving and Sharing Stories Since 1846. Exhibits at the Wisconsin Historical Museum are now closed to prepare for the new history center.
But you can still shop with us in store or online! Shop NOW: https://wihist.org/3iawNop
We believe history has the power to enrich and transform lives. And today, we're making it more accessible than ever.
The Wisconsin Historical Society is proud to unveil a fresh new brand identity and a fully redesigned website. We're also introducing a new nickname: WisHistory. Shorter, friendlier, and a little easier to fit into conversationโbut the same trusted resource Wisconsin and beyond has counted on since 1846.
The new website is built with you in mind. Whether you want to dig into the archives, plan a trip to one of our historic destinations, or read the latest news from the maritime archaeology team, the new website puts it all at your fingertips.
History is for everyone. Start exploring: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/
04/09/2026
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๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ! ๐ช๐ฒ'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ! Here's your chance to build your future with us and be part of history.
The Wisconsin Historical Society is entering a transformational moment with the opening of the 115,000 square foot Wisconsin History Center in late 2027.
Located on Capitol Square in downtown Madison, the History Center will serve as a flagship destination where people and communities connect across time through shared American experiences.
As the Societyโs premier venue, the History Center will feature more than 30,000 square feet of exhibit space, including three permanent galleries, a 7,500 square foot changing gallery, and a 1,000 square foot community gallery. The facility will include classrooms, dynamic public programming spaces, and a top floor and rooftop event venue. The Center is expected to welcome more than 200,000 visitors annually and will serve as the hub for mission delivery across Wisconsin.
The History Center Attractions Director provides senior level leadership across all facets of operations. This includes guest experience, programming, retail and admissions, business operations, and financial performance. The Director plays a critical role in shaping how visitors experience the History Center from the moment they arrive.
This role leads all visitor-facing functions including Guest Services, Admissions, Retail operations, programming and education, and overall facility readiness. The Director is also responsible for managing key operational partnerships including private events, food and beverage, security, and custodial services, ensuring strong performance, compliance, and a high-quality guest experience.
The Director serves as a key member of the Societyโs senior leadership team and works closely with executive leaders across programs, collections, learning, creative, marketing, and business services to deliver a cohesive and compelling visitor experience.
For more details and to apply: https://wihist.org/41ULv5O
Apply by 11:59 p.m. on May 29, 2026.
03/09/2026
Lunch plans on Tuesday?! Here's a great idea!
Join us for History Sandwiched In on select Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. โ 1:30 p.m. this fall inside the U.S. Bank Building on Madisonโs Capital Square.
๐ง ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ญ๐ฌ - ๐ง๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ-๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ-๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐๐
๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ก๐ผ๐ต๐น
Recounting harrowing experiences with tangled air-hoses, hungry sharks, and painful cases of the bends, Thomsen recounts how Max Nohlโs unquenchable thirst for adventure propelled him to transcend fear and become one of the fieldโs great innovators. She will describe his early passion for the undersea world and his many groundbreaking contributions to the diving industry, including inventing the first self-contained diving suit, co-founding Milwaukee-based diving equipment company, DESCO, and developing early underwater film and photography techniques for Hollywood. This book is published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
The events are FREE, but advanced registration is recommended.
Learn more and register here: https://wihist.org/4ujryCT
๐ธ: Dean Witter
02/09/2026
Are you ready for a historic camp adventure this summer? Roll dice and thwart monsters, tackle new challenges, innovate, create and learn during our exciting History Maker Space Summer Camps in Madison for learners of all ages!
๐ณ Wisconsin Adventures Summer Camp
๐จ Innovation Creation Summer Camp
๐กForward Thinkers Summer Camp
๐ฒ Myths and Legends Summer Camp- SOLD OUT
Reserve your spot today: https://wihist.org/4rcSeTS
01/16/2026
๐ง The holidays didnโt slow us down at the future Wisconsin History Center! Weโre charging ahead into 2026, and the building is starting to take shape. ๐ง
The framing for the mezzanine and Level Two is complete, and steel for Level Three is arriving, with Level Four next.
Thanks to our construction partner JH Findorff for sharing this fun fact! ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ธ๐ป๐ผ๐? The earliest steel products can be traced back 4,000 years ago. Since then, steel production has become so vast and economical that we could build 548 Eiffel Towers with the amount of steel that is produced daily.
Want a closer look? Check out our construction cam and watch the progress in action: https://wihist.org/49RmCgi
๐ธ: JH Findorff
๐ช๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐!
As construction continues at the site of the new Wisconsin History Center, the team has been traveling the state to film the centerโs large-scale media productions that will amplify the exhibition experiences.
In September, the Wisconsin Historical Society partnered with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to film manoomin (wild rice) harvesting with Lac du Flambeau Tribal members Biskakone Greg Johnson and Wasanodae Johnson. The father-daughter ricing partners spent two full days filming with SideXSide Studios. Miigwech (thank you) to Greg and Nodae for taking the film crew across the waters of Island Lake with expert poling and knocking, and for sharing the cultural and spiritual significance of the food that grows on the water.
The footage will be featured in various media installations in the Wisconsin History Center, along with additional film captured throughout Wisconsin and across our varied seasons, highlighting the gatherings, cultural activities and landscapes that help share the stories of the state.
๐ธ: SideXSide Studios
12/03/2025
Up for a little crafting? Create a mini tinsel tree, holiday banners, arts and more while sipping on hot cider and cocoa.
โ๏ธ Join us for Make It Merry: A Family & Friends Crafting Event
Saturday, December 6 or Saturday, December 13
History Maker Space in Madison
Swing into the '60s at Gleam & Glow! Celebrate Wisconsin's iconic Evergleam aluminum Xmas trees with vintage vibes, fab drinks and groovy tunes at this holiday pop-up party.
๐Join us for Gleam and Glow: A 60's Holiday Celebration
Friday, December 19
History Maker Space in Madison
Book your tickets: https://wihist.org/3XuM2th
11/21/2025
Check out what's been happening at the future site of the Wisconsin History Center! .
11/20/2025
Canoe #1, which is 1,200 years old and was recovered in 2021, will be exhibited in the future Wisconsin History Center.
09/08/2025
๐ง From crane installation to concrete pours, exciting things are happening at the Wisconsin History Center construction site! ๐ง
A big thank you to the talented tradespeople that have been setting forms, pouring foundation walls, reinforcing the concrete, and building the elevator core that is climbing higher each day.
For more on the Wisconsin History Center: https://wihist.org/41E39Lz
Thanks to our construction partners at JH Findorff for keeping us updated with photos from the site!
๐ธ: Findorff
08/25/2025
๐๏ธ History is rising from the ground! The tower crane is now in place at the Wisconsin History Center construction site! Next up: beam placement begins as we literally build the framework for the future home of our stateโs story. This is YOUR history center taking shape, one beam at a time, and we canโt wait to welcome guests from across Wisconsin and beyond.
Which Wisconsin stories are you most excited to explore?
Learn more about the Wisconsin History Center: https://wihist.org/4maPK5Y
07/14/2025
๐๏ธ Construction update from the Wisconsin History Center site!
Excavation for the new, five-story history hub is well underway, with concrete foundations set to begin in July. The tower crane will go up soon after.
Keep an eye here for more updates and photos from the construction site as we build history, together!
Learn more about the future Wisconsin History Center: https://wihist.org/4eGM4pt
Thanks to our construction partners at JH Findorff for the photos from the site!
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Address
30 N Carroll Street
Madison, WI
53703
Opening Hours
| Tuesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
| Friday | 10am - 5pm |