Milwaukee Public Museum receives $2M donation for new curator position and future construction

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Public Museum announced it has received a $2 million donation from former board member Ross Read and his wife Mary. The funds are committed to the museum's endowment to support long-term operations.

The gift was made as part of the Wisconsin Wonders campaign, an initiative to construct a new museum building in Milwaukee.

The donation will also establish a new curator position named the Chester Read Curator of History Collections. Jackie Schweitzer, the museum's History Collections Manager since 2018, has been appointed to the role. In her position, Schweitzer will oversee the development and maintenance of the museum's historical collections.

Construction of a new Milwaukee Public Museum building is part of the Wisconsin Wonders campaign's broader aims. Though the donation won't directly fund the construction, it plays a role in ensuring the museum's sustainability once it opens.

The new facility is slated to open its doors by early 2027, and more information can be found by clicking here.