The Heart of Our Museum Is Being Left Behind

Who decides what parts of our shared story are worth saving?

The Milwaukee Public Museum has been a place of wonder for generations — where children met lions, where families wandered cobblestone streets, and where time stood still in the warm glow of The Streets of Old Milwaukee or the twilight of the European Village. For over a century, these immersive environments have been more than displays; they are cultural landmarks, repositories of memory, and quiet teachers of history and empathy.

Based on the limited information publicly available and the exhibits MPM has identified as “tagged” for inclusion in the new facility, we can only estimate what percentage of the museum’s current exhibits will make the move—either in whole or in reinterpreted form. Without access to a complete inventory list, our assessment relies solely on what is currently displayed to the public. But according to MPM’s own plans, more than 95% of the current exhibits will be on display in the new Wisconsin Museum of Nature and Culture slated to open in 2027. That means nearly everything that defines the Milwaukee Public Museum as generations have known it — the dioramas, murals, and handcrafted details — will be sold, stored, dismantled, or destroyed. Given that the new facility will be roughly half the size of the existing building and that museum leadership has emphasized a commitment to “reimagine the museum from the ground up,” this estimate appears both realistic and deeply concerning.

The official language surrounding this process is abstract: “reimagined,” “transformed,” “deinstalled.” Yet behind those words lies the permanent loss of irreplaceable public art and craftsmanship. Each habitat diorama, from the Beaver Pond to the Sonoran Desert, is a miniature world — a scientific record, a work of art, and a cultural touchstone. To destroy them is to erase the artistry of the painters, sculptors, and naturalists who created them, and the emotional connections millions of visitors have built over generations.

These exhibits are not museum “props.” They are public trust objects — built with taxpayer funding, WPA labor, and community support. Many contain Works Progress Administration (WPA) components: painted backdrops, murals, and handcrafted models created under New Deal arts programs. As such, they may still carry federal ownership and preservation obligations — meaning they are not simply museum property to dispose of, but part of our collective heritage.

Miniature Dioramas and Murals displayed in the old Museum on Wisconsin Ave -                 Many were created with WPA funds during the Great Depression

Beyond legality, there is something deeper at stake: the soul of a public museum. MPM was never meant to be a private design showcase or a corporate attraction. It was built as a civic institution — one rooted in curiosity, education, and community pride. To quietly remove 95% of its historic exhibits, without public input or transparent review, is to disregard that founding purpose.

Museums around the world are recognizing the importance of preserving their historic dioramas — not as outdated relics, but as touchstones of cultural history. The American Museum of Natural History in New York restored its dioramas rather than replace them; others have integrated them into new narratives that honor both science and legacy. Why should Milwaukee do any less for its own treasures?

Our campaign, For the Love of Our Museum, is calling for the preservation of these irreplaceable works — or, at the very least, full public transparency and ethical accountability about their fate. Citizens have the right to know what will happen to collections built in their name and maintained with their support.

The dioramas may not have voices, but their silence speaks volumes. It’s up to us to listen — and to act before the lights go out on these beloved spaces forever.

What We Can Do

The good news: Milwaukee still has a voice. We can demand transparency, oversight, and a full inventory of what will move, what will be remade, and what will disappear.

Here’s how:

1. Ask your County Supervisor where the list of preserved exhibits is.

2. Contact MPM’s Board and demand an accounting of all of the items in the museum - not just the collections.

3. Join the Save MPM Coalition at SaveMPM.org to stay informed and help defend Milwaukee’s heritage.

Because when the public is kept in the dark, we all lose what belongs to us. But when we shine a light on the truth, we preserve what’s ours — together.

Sonoran Desert Diorama at the current Museum on 800 W. Wells St

Beaver Dam Diorama at the current Museum on 800 W. Wells St