Milwaukee Public Museum Rebrands as Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin, Expands Statewide Focus

MILWAUKEE, Wis (Civic Media) – The Milwaukee Public Museum will soon have both a new name and new home in downtown Milwaukee. When the museum reopens in 2027 at the corner of N. Sixth Street and W. McKinley Avenue, it will be known as the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin.

Museum officials announced Tuesday that the new name reflects its mission to highlight the natural wonders and diverse cultures found across the state. “Our new museum’s name honors the work we’ve been doing for nearly 150 years-sharing the intertwined stories of our natural world and the cultures that shape it,” said President and CEO Ellen Censky.

Originally chartered by the state in 1882, it is Wisconsin’s most visited museum and holds collections from all 72 counties.

The new location will feature the Milwaukee Revealed gallery, a “spiritual successor” to the beloved Old Milwaukee exhibit, which is being torn down and not part of the move.

Five permanent galleries are planned, along with other sights like the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium, a butterfly vivarium, a rooftop terrace and a plaza.

A statement says the complex, which will be called the Milwaukee Museum Center, will continue to care for Milwaukee County collections and welcome visitors from across Wisconsin and beyond.