The first shovels are in the ground that will be home to the new, $160.5 million Wisconsin History Center, the culmination of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s years-long goal of replacing the aging, undersized state historical museum on Capitol Square.
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Photos: Wisconsin History Center groundbreaking
Members of the Ho-Chunk Nation bless the ground of the future Wisconsin History Center during a ground-breaking event at the site on Capitol Square in Madison on Wednesday. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027.
Work progresses on the site of the future Wisconsin History Center. "This is a historic day for Wisconsin," Christian Øverland, director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society, said in a statement.
Attendees at a groundbreaking event for the future Wisconsin History Center capture photos during the event in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Members of the Little Priest Singers, a Ho-Chunk drum circle, perform during a groundbreaking for the future Wisconsin History Center in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Madison philanthropist Jerry Frautschi is greeted while arriving at a groundbreaking for the future Wisconsin History Center in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle visits with attendees to a groundbreaking for the future Wisconsin History Center in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Attendees at a groundbreaking event for the future Wisconsin History Center view the site of the center prior to a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
The emblem of the Wisconsin State Historical Society adorns cookies for attendees to a groundbreaking for the future Wisconsin History Center in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Attendees at a groundbreaking event for the future Wisconsin History Center gather for a groundbreaking event in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Members of the Ho-Chunk Nation prepare to bless the ground of the future Wisconsin History Center during a ground-breaking event at the site on Capitol Square in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Members of the Ho-Chunk Nation bless the ground of the future Wisconsin History Center during a ground-breaking event at the site on Capitol Square in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Attendees at a groundbreaking event for the future Wisconsin History Center gather for the event in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Historical Society director Christian Øverland speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Wisconsin History Center in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Historical Society board member Angela Bartell acknowledges benefactors to the future Wisconsin History Center, including philanthropist Jerry Frautschi, left, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Attendees at a groundbreaking event for the future Wisconsin History Center shovel ceremonial dirt during event in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The five-story, $160.5 million center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
