New exhibits to be revealed: Milwaukee Public Museum shows glimpse into new galleries

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) and exhibit design partner, Thinc Design, will announce over the coming months, design concepts for the Future Museum's five permanent galleries. 

The galleries have been themed: 

  • Time Travel
  • Wisconsin Journey
  • Milwaukee Revealed
  • Living in a Dynamic World
  • Rainforest 

According to a news release, the rollout of gallery themes and exhibit examples will take place over the course of 11 weeks and spotlight high-level concepts and focus areas for the Future Museum galleries, or groups of connected exhibits. 

MPM says the Future Museum will feature six galleries across four exhibit floors, inclusive of five permanent galleries and a temporary gallery space to host a rotation of special traveling exhibitions. The Future Museum will also have two flexible spaces, known as "Mixing Zones," dedicated to showcase a rotating selection of collection items. 

"We have aimed to create a future museum experience that honors the mission, history and legacy of the Milwaukee Public Museum," said MPM President & CEO Dr. Ellen Censky. "The iconic specimens and elements visitors love are being brought forward and reimagined in new, exciting scenes alongside collection objects that have not been on display previously. As part of one of the most highly anticipated milestones of this project, in the coming months we will give our community a first look at the stories of nature, culture, science and history the Future Museum will tell." 

Similar to the current Museum, visitors will be able to choose how they experience the Future Museum’s galleries. Whether heading up to the top floors and working their way down, starting at the ground level or beginning at their favorite gallery or exhibit, guests can choose how they navigate the galleries to create their very own favorite Museum experience.

The galleries will be rolled out from March 7 to May 23. More on the schedule is below: 

March 7: Time Travel

The Time Travel gallery is dedicated to exploring the deep past, including when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, through exhibits focused on three of the planet’s geological chapters: the Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era and Cenozoic Era.

March 23: Wisconsin Journey

The Wisconsin Journey gallery is an entire exhibit floor focused on the geological wonders and strong and varied cultures of Wisconsin – from the Driftless Area to the Northwoods, the Apostle Islands, the Great Lakes and Wisconsin’s vast Prairielands.

April 14: Milwaukee Revealed

Milwaukee Revealed will immerse visitors in city streetscapes they can explore to learn about the history of Milwaukee, the people who came to settle and live here and its interconnected systems, neighborhoods and ecologies (and where future generations of children can shop for a sweet treat).

May 9: Living in a Dynamic World and Mixing Zones

In the Living in a Dynamic World gallery, visitors will take an unconventional journey to five distinct ecosystems across the globe and be immersed in the landscapes and cultures that occupy them. The Mixing Zones, including the Burke Foundation Mixing Zone, are two spaces that will showcase a rotating selection of collection items, offer spaces for public interaction and programming and turn the Museum “inside out” by providing behind-the-scenes views into the collections’ storage areas.

May 23: Rainforest, Puelicher Butterfly Vivarium and the Bucyrus Rooftop Terrace

The Rainforest will take visitors to the tropics to learn about the biodiversity that flourishes in tropical rainforests and the life rainforest climates support. The Puelicher Butterfly Vivarium will welcome visitors into a warm, lush greenhouse thriving with real tropical plants and live butterflies flying freely throughout the space. The Bucyrus Rooftop Terrace will be a gathering space to reconnect visitors to the outdoors and natural world.

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