“If we don’t fight now, future generations will never know what was lost.”
– Concerned parent
“Exhibits are not ‘components.’ They are our history.”
– MPM visitor
“We paid for it. We raised our kids in it. It is part of who we are.”
-MKE Resident
What They’re Saying
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"Exhibits are scientifically and culturally outdated." — Leadership documents
Translation: Your childhood memories are being written off. -
MPM will become the “Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin.”
Translation: The public museum name is disappearing.
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Major public investments: $40M from the State of Wisconsin, $45M from Milwaukee County.
Translation: Our tax dollars are funding this — but without public oversight.
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Construction and 2027 opening well underway: groundbreaking in 2024, topping‑off in 2025.
Translation: They're moving fast — but we're still being left out of the conversation.
What’s Really Happening
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$240M new museum project, including land, exhibits, moving 4M items, and a $20M endowment.
Translation: This isn’t minor renovation. It’s total transformation.
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Name change confirmed to Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin, opening 2027.
Translation: Today's public museum is being erased. Tomorrow’s will be something else entirely.
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Building is 200,000 sq ft + off‐site collection storage.
Translation: This is a radically different institution — not an update, a reboot.
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Wisconsin companies heavily involved in construction.
Translation: This project may boost contractors—but not necessarily preserve what makes us Milwaukee.
What You Can Do
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Demand accountability from your Milwaukee County Supervisor.
Subject idea: "Don't cut the public out of the public museum."
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Submit an e-comment today—urge for public oversight and a transparent plan for exhibits.
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Support preservation with strong turnout: attend virtual or in-person meetings.
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Share our stories: whether your kids grew up in the Streets of Old Milwaukee or you're still talking about it — put your voice behind protection.
MKE Voices
Milwaukee is speaking up for the Public Museum. Here’s what the press, local leaders, and community members are saying.