Wisconsin Veterans Museum: New Museum Project

The current Wisconsin Veterans Museum has been in its current location, which is leased, for nearly 30 years. It has functionally outgrown this space which inhibits the ability of the staff to tell the stories of all Wisconsin Veterans from all eras of service. We need to do better for our veterans.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM) with the Wisconsin Department of Affairs (WDVA) and Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary’s offices jointly studied future facility requirements and options in downtown Madison for the museum. Concept A of that study, which involves acquiring the museum site and constructing a new building on the museum’s current location, was selected as the preferred course of action. It is a compelling vision that will secure WVM’s future for the next 50-75 years.

This project will be a public-private partnership similar to other museum projects in Madison. W. Jerome Frautschi has already pledged $10 million towards the new museum, contingent on the museum’s current site being acquired by the state of Wisconsin.

To move the project forward, the Governor’s proposed biennial budget includes $9 million for acquisition of the current site and preliminary engineering. The balance of the project will be addressed in the 26-27 Biennial Budget. Budget hearings with the Joint Finance Committee have begun.

The current museum lease ends November 2025, right after the 250th birthdays of U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines. There are no more renewals – without action, the museum will be forced to close and move into storage.

To learn more on what you can do to help, click here: https://wisvetsmuseum.com/new-museum-project/.

Member News

Member News is the place were DMI members can share newsworthy announcements about upcoming events, award recognitions, employee promotions, job postings, and other news related items. To make a posting, please use the Member News Submission Form