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Photo Courtesy of https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Milwaukee_Public_Museum_January_2023_37_%28Asia--Orangutan%29.jpg Carl Akeley’s famous muskrat diorama is moving to the new museum. But what the public doesn’t realize is that Akeley’s legacy in Milwaukee goes far beyond one case of muskrats. Three orangutans, prepared by renowned taxidermist Carl Akeley during his tenure at the Milwaukee Public Museum (1886–1892), still greet visitors today. They remain a centerpiece

Photo Courtesy of: American Antiquity, “Stephan F. de Borhegyi, 1921–1969,” Vol. 34, No. 3 (1969), Cambridge University Press. Read here. Every museum has its mysteries, but some say the Milwaukee Public Museum has a few extra guests who never checked out. Visitors talk about cold drafts in warm rooms, shadows that move where no shadows should, and whispers that don’t sound like school groups. So, grab your flashlight (and your courage) — let’s explore the haunted side of MP

The History and Future of the Once-Revolutionary Taxidermy Diorama Once hailed as cutting-edge science, taxidermy dioramas were the virtual reality machines of their day. In the early 20th century, museumgoers—most of whom would never set foot on the African savanna or Arctic tundra—suddenly found themselves face-to-face with lions, walruses, or moose, set in painstakingly painted landscapes. These immersive displays marked a democratizing turn in museum culture. No longer re

https://www.mpm.edu/node/27094 Preserving Milwaukee’s WPA Legacy at the Public Museum Milwaukee has a unique place in American history. During the Great Depression, the city became home to the Milwaukee Handicraft Project (MHP) , one of the most innovative and inclusive initiatives funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). From 1935 to 1942, the project employed more than 5,000 women and minorities, giving dignity, wages, and skills to people who had been left behind

Milwaukee is home to something extraordinary — one of the world’s largest open-air diorama. For generations, these exhibits have not...

Source: Milwaukee County Legistar – Parks & Culture Committee, Sept. 2, 2025 (Video available at: milwaukeecounty.legistar.com , File ID...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Milwaukee County’s Financial Crisis Threatens a Beloved Tradition — the Streets of Old Milwaukee MILWAUKEE — As...

22-616 Legistar File - Development Agreement for the new Milwaukee Public Museum This document was obtained through an open records...

Photo Citation Example: Photo: Dr. Ellen Censky presenting to Milwaukee Rotary on the new museum project (Milwaukee Public Museum,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Milwaukee Taxpayers Pay $45 Million, Get Nothing — State Secures Ownership Stake Under Motion 84 Milwaukee, WI —...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Milwaukee Paid $85 Million for a Museum Half the Size Milwaukee County residents are learning that the new...

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally lodge an ethics complaint concerning the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) under the...

Dear AAM Leadership: I am writing to raise serious concerns about the current trajectory of the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) under...

Dear ICOM Secretariat, I am writing to express deep concern about the dismantling of the Milwaukee Public Museum’s historical exhibits...

Good Afternoon Sen. Jacque, I’m writing as a concerned Milwaukee resident and member of PreserveMKE, a group advocating to save the...

When the public asks questions about the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM), the answers we get all sound the same: trust the professionals....

Dear Supervisor Johnson, Per our recent conversation, I am forwarding the attached presentation — Below. Presented to Supervisors Willie...

Milwaukee Residents Rally to Demand Transparency in Public Museum Relocation MILWAUKEE, WI — Concerned Milwaukee residents will gather...

Ken Kratz grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin. He was rooted in the Milwaukee area with his wife, and two children. Anyone who knew him...

Over the last few months, I have frequently encountered the terms artifact and exhibit, used to describe the Streets of Old Milwaukee...