Milwaukee Public Museum to showcase 142-year history in special exhibit

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Public Museum will host a special exhibit titled "Groundbreaking: The Evolution of a Natural History Museum," highlighting its 142-year history of innovation in exhibit design, scientific research and community involvement.

The exhibit will run from Friday, Oct. 18 through Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, and is included with general admission

Artifacts, taxidermy and old exhibit props from the museum’s past will be displayed, along with photos of its three different locations and some of its earliest exhibits, curators and visitors.

According to a Wednesday, Oct. 16 press release from the museum, visitors can trace five objects in the museum’s collections over time to see how technology, scientific discovery and cultural responsiveness have changed perspectives. The museum’s history of "firsts" includes creating the world’s first habitat diorama, designing the first walk-through diorama and developing the first permanent tropical rainforest exhibit.

The future museum, set to open in 2027, aims to continue this legacy by featuring architectural elements inspired by Wisconsin’s geological landscape and collaborating with origin communities in exhibit development.

For more information or to plan a visit, click here to check out the museum online.