Wisconsin Historical Museum

09/21/2026

So exciting to see! We can't wait to welcome you to the new Wisconsin History Center! Opening early 2028 to the public.

Have you caught a glimpse of the new Wisconsin History Center lately? 🚧

The exterior walls are going up, and all of the exterior glass is expected to be installed by the end of the month. Inside, there’s plenty happening, too, as teams continue making great progress on the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

View live updates from the construction site: https://wihist.org/4xJzG09

Thanks to our construction partners at JH Findorff for keeping us updated with photos from the site!



📸: Findorff

08/17/2026

We were honored to be part of Marathon County Celebrates America’s 250th!

A special thank you to our board member, Keene Winters, for offering remarks during the program.

We’re grateful to the Marathon County Historical Society, Wausau East Hmong Dance Club, and all of the volunteers, partners, and community members who made this such a memorable day. Thank you for partnering with us on the Wisconsin History Makers Tour!

08/14/2026

We'd love for you to send in your bar tokens for the new Wisconsin History Center!

Have you heard? We are working to source tavern tokens from every county in Wisconsin, all 72 of them, as part of a future exhibition display that explores the state’s famed tavern culture. We are off to a great start but still need more!

Want to make sure your hometown bar or tavern is represented? Send us their tavern token or drink chip and help put your favorite watering hole on the map at the future Wisconsin History Center.

📬 Send your tokens by August 31 to:

Wisconsin Historical Society
Tavern Token Project
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706

Please note: Tavern tokens submitted to this crowdsourcing effort will become property of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Depending upon the final number of submissions we receive, we may not be able to include all tokens in the exhibition display.

Want to get this opportunity in front of your favorite establishments? Tag and mention them in the comments!

08/04/2026

Want to help your favorite Wisconsin tavern make history? 🍻

The future Wisconsin History Center wouldn’t be complete without a tribute to Wisconsin’s famed tavern culture and the local establishments that have served as vibrant community hubs across the state for generations.

But we need your help to ensure every corner of Wisconsin is represented in the exhibition display. Between now and August 31, 2026, we are crowdsourcing tavern tokens from local watering holes across the state. These storied tokens date back to 17th century in Britain where small wooden discs, often called tokens or chips, could be exchanged for beverages at pubs. The tradition traveled over to Colonial America and persists to this day in local bars and taverns across Wisconsin.

📬 Send us a token from YOUR favorite local spot by August 31, 2026:

Wisconsin Historical Society
Tavern Token Project
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706

Please note: Tavern tokens submitted to this crowdsourcing effort will become property of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Depending upon the final number of submissions we receive, we may not be able to include all tokens in the exhibition display.

Help us share the story of Wisconsin's historic tavern culture, one token at a time.



📸: Milwaukee Record

06/29/2026

Each day we are getting closer to opening day! We can't wait to welcome guests to the Wisconsin History Center!

05/19/2026

🏁 With another season underway at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconson. we’re looking back at a project from last June capturing one of Wisconsin’s most iconic places.

Working alongside Ralph Appelbaum Associates and Side X Side Studios as part of a statewide media initiative for the new Wisconsin History Center, we documented the legendary 4-mile course known as “America’s National Park of Speed.”

This staff-captured behind-the-scenes moment offers a glimpse into the process of bringing Road America’s story to the new Wisconsin History Center.

Learn more: https://wihist.org/4uhlp9H

📸: June 2025

05/18/2026

We can't wait! Check out these latest photos of the new Wisconsin History Center!

04/14/2026

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 conversation—but 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/

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!

🌳 Wisconsin Adventures Summer Camp
🎨 Innovation Creation Summer Camp
💡Forward Thinkers Summer Camp
🎲 Myths and Legends Summer Camp- SOLD OUT

Reserve your spot today: https://wihist.org/4rcSeTS

01/16/2026

🚧 The holidays didn’t slow us down at the future Wisconsin History Center! We’re charging ahead into 2026, and the building is starting to take shape. 🚧

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! 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? 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



📸: JH Findorff