A Letter To Our County Executive

To: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley   

RE: Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM)

From:

Preserve MKE  Board of Directors

Copied to County Supervisors:

Marcelia Nicholson                  Steven Shea                            

Patti Logsdon                           Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones                                                          

Kathleen Vincent                      Willie Johnson

Deanna Alexander                    Sequanna Taylor

Steve F. Taylor                          Sheldon A. Wasserman

Felesia A. Martin                      Shawn Rolland

Juan Miguel Martinez               Kathleen Vincent

Caroline Gomez-Tom               Justin Bilenski

Sky Z. Capriolo                        Jack Eckblad

Anne O’Connor

Dear County Executive Crowley,

Two years ago, a small group of concerned citizens united to address the uncertain future of the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM). Today, over 10,000 individuals have joined our cause on social media, and our collective efforts have already made an impact. We have successfully prompted citizens and elected officials to reconsider decisions that threaten to dismantle this cultural treasure. On behalf of these 10,000 supporters, we urge you to reconsider the decision to destroy the artwork and exhibits at MPM. Additionally, our Board of Directors formally requests a meeting with you to discuss this matter further.

As previously communicated to the County Supervisors, we believe the public and elected officials were not fully informed about the fate of MPM and its historic exhibits. Many citizens mistakenly assume the museum is simply relocating from a "dilapidated" building to a new one. However, the planned destruction of the exhibits was not disclosed. The confusion alone at the true plans of our museum proves the lack of community involvement and transparency.

The MPM houses hundreds of murals painted by notable artists, alongside exhibits crafted by skilled artisans renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship. These dioramas, celebrated worldwide as the “Milwaukee Style,” are of significant historical importance. Without intervention, these treasures will be irretrievably lost, and history will judge this destruction harshly. We advocate for preserving these historic exhibits and artwork, keeping them accessible to the public.

MPM leadership’s assertion that the current building is beyond repair is misleading. The maintenance and repair reports we have obtained contradict this claim. We continue to call for an independent inspection of the building, with results shared transparently with the public.

While MPM Inc. emphasizes its commitment to preserving “artifacts,” this language obscures reality: there is no intent to save the exhibits that define the museum’s unique character and public appeal. Preserving isolated artifacts without maintaining the full scope of exhibits diminishes the museum as a living, comprehensive institution. True preservation requires safeguarding not just individual pieces but whole exhibits that convey our shared history and heritage.

MPM Inc. has stated their focus is on preserving collections, not exhibits. Over 10,000 supporters strongly oppose this shortsighted approach. The exhibits themselves have become historically and culturally significant. While the organization’s vague promises to “preserve artifacts” might sound reassuring, they mask plans to discard many beloved exhibits. Preservation must honor the exhibits that tell our community’s story, not just isolated objects.

MPM Inc., the private entity managing the museum, seeks $85 million in public funding to construct and privately own the new “Wisconsin Natural Museum”—while excluding public oversight. Taxpayer investment must come with transparency and accountability.

In September, we sent a letter to County Supervisors outlining our concerns. Rather than receiving a formal response, our letter was forwarded to Ellen Censky, who responded directly. While we do not object to her involvement, we find it unusual and disappointing that no official reply was provided by our elected officials.

MPM management has defended their plans by citing focus groups and surveys suggesting that the exhibits are perceived as stagnant, could benefit from being more engaging, and should change more frequently. They also claim that some exhibits, built in the 1960s and 1970s, lack cultural competency and do not reflect current scientific research.

We believe what constitutes a “meaningful” exhibit is subjective. To our 10,000 members, these exhibits are deeply meaningful. While we welcome reasonable updates and adjustments to enhance scientific and cultural relevance, we fail to see how destroying hundreds of murals and works of art achieves this goal.

We also question the specific claims of “cultural incompetence.” Which exhibits, if any, cannot be updated or corrected to align with modern knowledge and factual accuracy rather than subjective ideology? This rationale appears to be a recurring justification from MPM management, yet it remains unsubstantiated.

Thank you for your service to our community. We look forward to your thoughtful consideration of these concerns and your response to our request for a meeting.

Preserve MKE Board of directors:

Scott Johnson, Scott Bush, Justin Gaver, Kat Chui, Alex Hahnfeld, Paul Tenpenny and the 10,000 members (and growing) of @PreserveMKE and @StreetsofOldMilwaukeeClub