City of Sun Prairie Museum

09/02/2026

Attention history buffs!

08/31/2026

Please help us in welcoming Craig Jacobsen! Craig will be serving as the Historical Museum Operations Coordinator for the remainder of 2026. We'll be posting Fall museum open hours in the near future so stay tuned!

A message from Craig:
I was born and spent most of my formative years on the Great Plains in the southwestern corner of Minnesota, in a small Danish settlement. I graduated from high school in Hayward, Wisconsin, and went on to attend the University of Minnesota and Grand Valley State College in Michigan, where I earned my B.S. degree in Communication. I completed my MFA studies at UW–Madison, where I taught acting before becoming an Assistant Professor of Theater at UW–Richland Center.

Throughout my career, I have held a variety of positions in the performing arts, including work as an actor on stage, television, and film. I frequently portrayed historical figures for PBS, including Wisconsin’s Territorial Governor Henry Dodge. I have also toured internationally as a performer and have appeared on stage at American Players Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Children’s Theater of Madison, and the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee.

I served in several positions with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and later with Taliesin Preservation in Spring Green, Wisconsin, where I raised my family. I have also served on the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Wisconsin Visitor’s Bureau, the Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin Board of Directors, and other local community organizations.

My wife, Elizabeth, and I moved back to southwestern Wisconsin 12 years ago after living in Minneapolis, and we currently reside in Sauk City. After returning to the area, I joined the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, where I created and managed its Event Rental Program until my retirement in May 2026.

I am excited for the opportunity to serve the City of Sun Prairie as the Museum Coordinator for the Sun Prairie History Museum and Library. I have already met many wonderful people who are dedicated to the growth and preservation of both the museum and the community. This is an exciting new chapter for me, and I am honored and motivated to help share the treasures and stories of the museum with the Sun Prairie community.

02/17/2026

02/05/2026

Today we said goodbye to the Museum’s full-time staff, Sunshine and Katie. Thank you to all the friends who visited during open hours! 👋

We are grateful to the people of Sun Prairie for allowing us to serve the community through research, tours, field trips, presentations, and stewarding of the collections. At the heart of the operation were our volunteers, each bringing a unique and valuable skillset to the team. ❤️

(Shout out to Downtown Sun Prairie’s Barbie themed W**e Walk in 2024 in the background)

01/31/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Coffee Chat this morning!

Special thanks to the City of Sun Prairie Museum for hosting us!✨🖼

01/26/2026

Hey, we know that place!

Be sure to swing by the Museum to meet the real (and mascot) Jimmy prior to his big prognostication during our Night at the Museum with Jimmy event on Sunday, February 1st from 5:00-7:00pm 😁

01/21/2026

To share more information and provide Q&A opportunities, referendum town halls will be held in each district in partnership with your elected alders. Sun Prairie residents are welcome and encouraged to attend whichever meeting works best for you. A complete schedule of meetings is available online at https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/3103/Referendum-Town-Hall-Sessions

01/20/2026

LAST CHANCE:

Tomorrow is the final day of Stories in Silk: The Artistry of Patricia Hable Zastrow!

Stop by this free exhibition from 11am-4pm at 115 E. Main St., Sun Prairie this Wednesday the 21st and dive into a world of fables and fabric.