History Happens Here
Wisconsin’s New History Center
The Wisconsin Historical Society is bringing a new, 21st-century history center and cultural attraction to the people of Wisconsin and beyond.
Designed to be a welcoming beacon of inspiration and exploration, the new center set on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square in Madison will reflect a modern approach to sharing history and connecting communities.
Project Overview
Behind
the Design
Project
Timeline
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NEW
Road America
America’s National Park of Speed
Get ready to rev up history! The new Wisconsin History Center’s inaugural specialty exhibition will guide thousands of visitors through the lives of visionaries, innovators, racers and fans who built one of the world’s premier
road courses.
Recent News
Society Breaks Ground on the New Wisconsin History Center
The Society celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Wisconsin History Center…
Historical Society Preps Construction Site
We’ve begun preparing the construction site on the Wisconsin State Capitol building square for the Wisconsin History Center…
State Authorization to Construct History Center
The Wisconsin History Center project reached another significant milestone today when the State Building Commission…
Progress From the Site
View live updates from the construction site!
Help Your Kids Make History!
Weeks in June, July, & August
Mon – Fri | 9 AM – 3 PM
Are you ready for a historic camp adventure this summer? Roll dice and thwart monsters, tackle new challenges, innovate, create and learn during our exciting History Maker Space Summer Camps for learners of all ages!
Iconic Location
The new history center will be located on Wisconsin’s Capitol Square in Madison, contributing to a thriving cultural district and offering a convenient location for school groups visiting from around the state.
Visit Us Now!
History Maker Space
Hosting pop-up exhibits, author talks, public programs, a new retail shop and history center sneak peeks during the construction of the new building
History Makers Tour
Bringing history directly to local communities in every region of the state through pop-up exhibits, artifact displays, public programs, art installations, and more!
Get Updates About the Project!
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🚧 The holidays didn’t slow us down at the future Wisconsin History Center! We’re charging ahead into 2026, and the building is starting to take shape. 🚧
The framing for the mezzanine and Level Two is complete, and steel for Level Three is arriving, with Level Four next.
Thanks to our constructJH Findorff JH Findorff for sharing this fun fact! 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? The earliest steel products can be traced back 4,000 years ago. Since then, steel production has become so vast and economical that we could build 548 Eiffel Towers with the amount of steel that is produced daily.
Want a closer look? Check out our construction cam and watch the progress in action: wihist.o#wihistorycenteristorycenter
📸: JH Findorff ... See MoreSee Less
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Archeological adventures, famous cryptid folklore, creative science experiments and more—there’s no shortage of mysteries to uncover and history to discover at the History Maker Space this summer! Choose from one (or all) of our camps and let your young learner explore.
Register Today: wihist.org/3LjuVrW ... See MoreSee Less
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𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆!
As construction continues at the site of the new Wisconsin History Center, the team has been traveling the state to film the center’s large-scale media productions that will amplify the exhibition experiences.
In SeptemberWisconsin Historical Societyociety partnered with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to film manoomin (wild rice) harvesting with Lac du Flambeau Tribal members Biskakone Greg Johnson and Wasanodae Johnson. The father-daughter ricing partners spent two full days filming with SideXSide Studios. Miigwech (thank you) to Greg and Nodae for taking the film crew across the waters of Island Lake with expert poling and knocking, and for sharing the cultural and spiritual significance of the food that grows on the water.
The footage will be featured in various media installations in the Wisconsin History Center, along with additional film captured throughout Wisconsin and across our varied seasons, highlighting the gatherings, cultural activities and landscapes that help share the stories of the state.
📸: SideXSide Studios ... See MoreSee Less
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