To Save a Museum

By Scott J.

I started the Streets of Old Milwaukee Club because I’m just a guy who cares. When I learned about the very real plans to dismantle our museum, it felt fundamentally wrong. I couldn’t ignore it — and I knew that if something was going to change, someone had to step up.

Someone had to believe that getting the word out — and showing we could do something — was possible.

The Streets of Old Milwaukee Club began on the evening of January 8, 2023, with just 24 members.

By May, we had 1,000.

By October, 4,000.

And today, we hover around 10,000.

That’s 10,000 people who love the historic exhibits.

10,000 who want the public to hear the truth that was meant to be buried.

And 10,000 who believe that preserving the art created by families, artists, historians, and public museum workers matters more than chasing a flashy agenda.

In the three years I’ve been involved in this cause, I’ve become a passionate advocate for the people’s museum.

I often think of The Lorax when I talk about it. To quote Dr. Seuss:

“Who will speak for the trees?”

For me, the question has always been:

Who will speak for the exhibits?

For the family heirlooms?

For the craftsmen, the artists, the curators — and the generations of families who helped build and preserve this cultural legacy?

We have a wide variety of personalities in our ranks — and we seem to attract neurodivergent, history-buff intellectuals. 🤣

Some days, it really is like herding cats… but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What I can say is this:

We’re not old fogies afraid of change.

In fact, change can be great.

But what we are — are people who love our history, our culture, and a museum that once influenced exhibit design around the world.

It’s special.

It’s historic.

And it’s ours.

Our reasonable love for it is just — and it should never be dismissed or diminished.

So why are we here — and what would I ask of you?

We’re here because we are on the right side of this fight.

Because this is a just cause: that the art, the spirit, and the story of our museum should live on for our children, our grandchildren, and the generations beyond.

We’re here to embolden everyone who showed up today — to rise up, get involved, and help save our museum.

And let me be clear:

Until the wrecking ball swings, hope is not lost.

These fights always seem to come down to the wire — and we still have time.

So here’s what I ask of you:

First — do not be cynical or hopeless.

Fear of failure is just the arrogance of expecting success without effort.

Second — this is a marathon, not a sprint.

We’ve already moved the needle. The truth is out there, and people are paying attention. The next step… is doing.

And third — I need your passion, your help, and your faith… all the way to the finish.

And yes — your money would be nice too. 🤣

Our next steps are bold.

We’re turning up the heat — and we need more hands, more voices, and more energy to match it.

I could close with JFK’s famous line — “Ask not what your country can do for you…” — and it would fit.

But instead, I’ll leave you with this from Margaret Mead:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for your support.

Now rest up — and let’s get back to saving our museum.

https://preservemke.org/articles/f/to-save-a-museum