The Milwaukee Public Museum, a storied institution that has shared the natural and cultural history of Wisconsin for nearly 150 years, is preparing to fully embrace this legacy under a new moniker. Scheduled to undergo a significant transformation that will manifest not only in bricks and mortar but also its public persona, the museum will adopt the name Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin upon the grand opening of its new location in 2027. As reported by TMJ4, this rebranding is intended to more accurately reflect the museum’s focus on the rich interconnection between human beings and the environment they inhabit.
As work continues to rapidly build the museum's future home at the intersection of North Sixth Street and West McKinley Avenue, the museum aims to ambitiously also build a bridge to the past, capturing a tapestry of stories that span time and culture. Dr. Ellen Censky, the museum’s president and CEO, expressed excitement about the unfolding developments in a statement gathered by Milwaukee Magazine, "Our new museum’s name, the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin, honors the work we’ve been doing for nearly 150 years – sharing the intertwined stories of our natural world and the diverse cultures that shape it."
Moreover, the museum's evolution is not limited strictly to the breadth of collections and narratives housed within. The logo, infused with hues named “Wisconsin waters” and “Northwoods green,” is designed to evoke the natural splendor of Wisconsin’s Mill Bluff State Park and mirror the architectural form of the new museum itself. The museum will continue to operate at its current Wells Street location until the doors of the new space open.
Visitors can expect to be treated to a variety of permanent exhibit galleries, such as the Time Travel and the Wisconsin Journey galleries, along with spaces including a rainforest and a planetarium. To further highlight the institution's inclusivity, all of Wisconsin's cultural history and identity will be represented throughout the building's design and exhibits. In an interview for GMToday, Censky outlined the museum's mission to, "invite in guests from across Wisconsin and beyond to celebrate and spark curiosity about our shared history, all in one space."
