'Wisconsin Journey': Latest MPM exhibition gallery reveal focuses on Badger State

MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- There are so many places to visit in our great state that you might not have time to see them all, but soon you can travel around Wisconsin without leaving Milwaukee.

A "big Wisconsin hug" is how Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) described the latest exhibit it unveiled for its new home, slated to open in 2026.

The museum credits a seven-day trip around the state as the inspiration for "Wisconsin Journey," one of five permanent galleries set to be in their new building.

"I am a native Wisconsinite, yet this journey around the state taught me something new at every turn," MPM President and CEO Ellen Censky said.

Though the museum is the most visited in the state, Censky said it lacks exhibits extending beyond Milwaukee, so creating "Wisconsin Journey" was necessary.

"As I learned, even well-traveled Wisconsinites could benefit from a deeper look at their favorite places around the state," she said.

The team from MPM visited 28 locations around the state with cultural significance from tribal lands, farms, state parks, and even one supper club. On Thursday, MPM revealed the first four parts of "Wisconsin Journey": Apostle Islands, Northwoods, Driftless Region, and Prairie. All the exhibits are designed to transport you to those locations.

"We'll do this through immersive exhibits that include tactile interactive elements that peak all our senses and through the interpretation of numerous one-of-a-kind artifacts and specimens that tell the stories of this state and its residents," Thinc Design Senior Curator Helen Divjak said.

They tell CBS 58 that the last two parts, The Great Lakes and Door Peninsula, will be unveiled soon. For more on the "Wisconsin Journey" exhibit, CLICK HERE.